Volunteer Sailors at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples in Italy rolled up their sleeves to repair bicycles destined for the Ivory Coast in Africa.

The effort was part of a two-day community engagement project. About one hundred bicycles of various sizes were collected from around the base through donations and brought to a central location at NSA Naples Support Site for repairs.

Around ten volunteer Sailors from various commands gathered at the NSA Naples Support Site to perform the repairs needed to bring the bikes up to a condition that will allow them to be put to good use in the Ivory Coast. The volunteers worked for two days, and were able to produce 68 bicycles in good working condition.

Among the Sailors who volunteered for the effort was NSA Naples Command Master Chief (SW) Charles Collins, who has been into repairing bicycles even as a child. He shared: “This was a great way to do something I love while contributing to a worthy cause… We started out with 105 dilapidated bikes and will get at least 50 to 60 in good working condition to ship to the Ivory Coast.”

Religious Program Specialist Seaman Jocelyn Morales, a visiting Navy Reservist, shared: “We fixed up as many bikes as possible to donate to the Ivory Coast of Africa, mainly to help kids who have to travel long distances for school and who have been unable to go to school because of the distance… I’m really happy that I was able to be here, this was a great experience.”