Nine TSCOMM Depart-ment Whidbey Island Sailors recently gathered in Stanwood, Wash. to volunteer with Snohomish Countyís Housing Hope to help provide families with a safe, decent and affordable home.

Working side by side with the prospective homeowners, Lt. Marc Schuh, Chief Electronics Technician Eric Dagle, Information Systems Technician 1st Class Matthew Harrison, Electronics Technician 1st Class Anthony Schmakel, Electronics Technician 1st Class Paul Mezack, Electronics Technician 2nd Class (SW) Doug Allen, Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Tyson Diffie, Logistics specialist 2nd Class Crystal Holbrook, and Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Perry Larsen these Sailors learned about their neighbors and surrounding community while getting hands-on training in home construction.

What started as simple tasks, such as cleaning up from the previous dayís construction, quickly turned into advanced home-building projects. The TSCOMM Whidbey Island team remained dedicated to the challenge every step of the way: raising roof trusses, staining siding, setting concrete forms, and placing the support posts for what will soon become front porches.

As each job was completed and the day drew to a close, each one of the volunteer Sailors came away from the job site enriched by the skills they learned and the gratification and kind words received from the future homeowners.

“It is a great opportunity to help people in our community build towards the future and for us to gain experience that we can utilize at home,” said Schmakel. 

Now these families are one day closer to having a home to call their own, while the TSCOMM Department Whidbey Island Sailors have a deeper appreciation of the power of teamwork.

“I am very proud of these Sailors — their generosity, selflessness, and volunteerism is an inspiration to all. They are making a difference in the Navy and within their community.” said Lt. Cmdr. Jimmie Jones, officer in charge, NCTAMS Pacific Detachment Puget Sound.