Sailors volunteer for communities
Sailors of the Republic of Korea Navy 2nd Fleet conduct volunteer activities at a sanatorium for senior citizens located in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. / Courtesy of 2nd Fleet
By Jun Ji-hye
Sailors of the Republic of Korea Navy are actively participating in volunteer activities in an effort to share with local communities.
Ten sailors and civilian workers belonging to the Navy 1st Fleet, which looks after the East Sea, visited a senior welfare center located near Mukho Port in Donghae, Wednesday.
They repaired old facilities and cleaned up the center and surrounding area, while some took a walk with the elderly and kept them company.
“Through volunteer activities, sailors and civilian workers could recall a sense of gratitude toward the elderly,” said Shim Joong-ho, a civilian worker who leads the Fleet's maintenance unit. “We will continue to carry out volunteer activities for local residents.”
Sailors of the 1st Fleet have conducted various volunteer services in cooperation with local social service agencies, including giving haircuts, delivering charcoal briquettes and washing laundry for those in need. The fleet has also supported snow removal in the region.
Also on Wednesday, sailors of the 2nd Fleet based in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, visited a sanatorium for senior citizens who live alone or are disabled.
The sailors repaired aging facilities there and cleaned up the surrounding area, the Fleet said, adding that they also served as boon companions for senior citizens who have mobility difficulties.
“I believe the sailors who participated in volunteer activities would feel that when you share the love, it doubles,” Lieutenant Commander Kim Ho said. “The 2nd Fleet will consistently carry out such activities to show compassion for their neighbors in need.”
The Fleet noted that the sanatorium the sailors visited this time is managed by the Volunteer Management System (VMS) operated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Sailors' volunteering at institutes managed by VMS can be noted on their records when applying for schools or companies after they are discharged from the service, the Fleet noted.