By ABH3 Amanda Brittingham, Naval Base Coronado Public Affairs Office NAVAL BASE CORONADO, Calif., — Members from the Navy Wives Clubs of America (NWCA), Local 167 Chapter, distributed more than 240 Thanksgiving baskets to junior Sailors aboard Naval Base Coronado installations, Nov. 23. Nearly 13 club members volunteered during the two-weeks of preparation to gather food and organize the event. According to NWCA members, the club wanted to help out military families due to additional holiday expenses and the state of the economy. “I thrive off this stuff,” said Denise Johnson, Club Treasurer and Chairman of the food basket giveaway. “Doing this makes me feel great. We have been in the same situation, my husband and I were young and enlisted and it was difficult. Today’s economy is rough,” added Johnson. The basket included the holiday meal base ingredients such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, yams, pumpkin and corn bread mix, vegetables and a $25 voucher for the commissary. Fireman Machinist Mate Elsa Jaime said, “This helps us out a lot. I’m going to open my house to people who don’t have any where to go. We are going to feed a lot of mouths.” This is the second year NWCA gave away Thanksgiving baskets and club members plan to continue to donate food to junior Sailors every year. According to Dawn Young, an active NWCA member, “I like donating my time helping out the Navy. They serve us and I do whatever I can to help out. They keep us safe and free.”
# # # Photo caption: NAVAL BASE CORONADO, Calif., (Nov 23, 2009) – Navy Wives Clubs of America (NWCA), Local 167 Chapter, Treasurer and Chairman for Thanksgiving basket give away, Denise Johnson, distributes a $25 commissary voucher and Thanksgiving food basket to Fireman Machinist Mate Elsa Jaime aboard Naval Air Station, North Island. Nearly 240 baskets were prepared and distributed by NWCA volunteers to NBC Sailors during the give away. U.S. Navy Photo by ABH3 Amanda Brittingham. (Released)
