Navy volunteers roll up sleeves to help community

More Day of Caring projects coming Tuesday

More Day of Caring projects coming Tuesday

A small army of soon-to-be seamen invaded Charleston Farms on Friday.

About 300 students from the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command school in Goose Creek swarmed across the weathered North Charleston neighborhood, picking up trash, painting houses and trimming bushes as a precursor to United Way's Day of Caring on Tuesday.

The school that is a first step for students who will one day be assigned to nuclear-powered submarines and other vessels couldn't let the students out of class on Tuesday, so the United Way graciously accepted an offer to allow them to take on the project on Friday, said Charlotte Anderson, vice president of United Way's 211 hot line.

"It's awesome," she said as she handed out cold drinks and snacks in front of a house being painted on Shelton Street. "I appreciate their spirit and willingness to help."

Ina Norris, 70, appreciated it, too.

She sat in a lawn chair under sprawling oak trees that her husband, Howard, planted 50 years ago while a team of about 15 students scraped away old paint and readied her brick home for a new coat of white paint on the trim work for the first time in about 20 years.

"I'm tickled to death," she said. "It's going to look like a new house."

For the students, it was more than just gladly helping out.

"It gets people away from all the studying while helping people in the community," said Brian Holstein, 19, a machinist mate from Columbus, Ohio, as he helped scrape away old paint.

"This is a nice little break," said Steven Wood, a machinist mate from Linden, Mich., as he slapped a new coat of paint on a wooden handrail at Norris' front door. "I'm glad to help out the community."

Ryan Ferguson, 23, had never been to a less-fortunate neighborhood such as Charleston Farms, where longtime residents are fighting to keep the community from being overrun by drug dealers and prostitutes. "Coming here and seeing places like this, it's good to help the people out," said the Dwight, Ill., native who is studying to be an electronic technician.

He was picking up trash on Dutton Avenue with classmate Emily Pippin, 19, of Atlanta. "It's great that we get to give back to the community," said Pippin, one of the few women at the school.

Chief Don Caverly of the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command school oversaw the students' volunteer work. "They are having a blast out here," Caverly said. "I think it's one of the best things we have ever done. We are making an impact to make it a nicer place to live."

Reach Warren Wise at 745-5850 or wwise@postandcourier.com.

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