Service Members Provide Hope to the Help Bronx Morris Ave. Shelter

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Monique K. Hilley, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East

NEW YORK (NNS) -- Service members visited the Help Bronx Morris Avenue Shelter in Bronx, N.Y., during Fleet Week New York 2012 to play games, make crafts and have lunch with the children staying at the shelter May 26.

The event was part of a Times Square Church Military Ministry event called Project Hope, which has brought hope to the shelter during Fleet Week New York for the past five years.

"We're here today to work with the families and kids and the program that the Times Square Church has established. To come along and inspire and bring them hope and just show them that there's a different way to do things," said Lt. Cmdr. Matt Weems, a chaplain stationed aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1).

"We thought this was a great opportunity to bring in some Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen to bring encouragement and hope to inner-city children that are living on the streets," said Dr. Bill Butler, volunteer director, Times Square Church Military Ministry. "Most of these kids come from broken families. None of them even have the hope that they're ever going to get out of this neighborhood or the situation that they grew up in. For somebody in uniform to come and spend an afternoon with them to get to know them, encourage them, and just have fun with them makes a world of difference and will have a long-lasting impact on their life and perhaps, maybe even some of these children will choose a career in the armed forces."

The day began with each service member choosing one child to mentor and spend the day with. Once they met and talked for a bit, everyone had lunch while enjoying a musical performance by the U.S Navy Band Northeast. The children enjoyed a puppet show and had their photos taken with their new friends so that they could have a memento to bring home as a reminder of their day.

"I feel good about what I'm doing here today with Chana," said Aviation Support Equipment Technician 2nd Class Jason Webster, stationed aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1). "He may not get much support from other people, but maybe I can show him and give him a tiny little bit of hope, and let him know that this may be where you're at right now, but this is not where you have to sleep."

Chana, the nine year old boy that Webster mentored, said that he was really happy to see all the Sailors at the shelter today and wanted to thank them for supporting him. Chana, who currently lives at the shelter, wants to be a professional sports player when he grows up.

"The Navy does projects like this all over the world because we're a global force for good, and with that, it's a benefit to the Sailor to get outside their normal sphere of influence and influence others and also see the needs that are in the local communities and hopefully inspire and help some people," said Weems.