USNS Trenton assists Venice organization

ByChristinaJohnson

Military Sealift Command, Europe and Africa

VENICE, Italy USNS Trenton (T-EPF 5), Military Sealift Command’s expeditionary fast transport ship, participated in a communityrelationsprojectwhiletheship wasinportVenice,Italy,March7.

Trenton crewmembers volunteered at Emporio Della Solidarieta, an organization establishedin2008withthegoaltoprovide local low-income families with bare-necessity items, including food and personal products, by operating a store, a school and offering housing for adults requiring extra assistance

“It was really great to learn about the mission of the Emporio and all that they do for the local community,” said Lt Cmdr Matt DeBaun Trenton’s assistant officer in charge “Weweregladtoassistandhopeour efforts will help their operations moving forward.”

The Trenton team was asked to organize the pasta supplies located in the organization’s warehouse that stores donated items for distribution. The ship’s volunteers sorted through more than 50 boxes of pasta, verified the expiration dates on the boxes, repackaged and arranged the boxes by date. This assistance will help Emporio staffmembersalignproductdatestoprevent expirationwasteandtocontinuallyprovide currentitemstothoseinneed

“ThiswasagreatopportunityforourSailors to give back to the Venice community,” said Cmdr Tim Rustico Trenton’s officer incharge “Emporioisdoingsomeamazing work, and it was an honor to assist them in theirmission.

Military Sealift Command operates approximately 125 naval auxiliary civilian-crewed ships, replenishes U.S. Navy ships, strategically prepositions combat cargo at sea and moves military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalitionpartnersaroundtheworld.

Trenton is currently deployed in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations. Sixth Fleet, headquarteredinNaples,Italy,conductsthe full spectrum of joint and naval operations, ofteninconcertwithalliedandinteragency partners, in order to advance U.S. national security interests and security and stability inEuropeandAfrica.