Members of the Port of San Diego Ship Repair Association deliver 700 toys to Barrio Station in San Diego.
SAN DIEGO–Braving the early Friday rainstorm, members of the Port of San Diego Ship Repair Association (PSDSRA) spread holiday cheer today by delivering nearly 700 toys to the Barrio Station, one of two identified beneficiary organizations that will assist in identifying children and families in need. The second organization, Good Neighbor Project, will also be receiving a toy donation from the PSDSRA.
“The Ship Repair Association has been involved with this toy drive for the past 20 years, and every year we look forward to delivering more and more toys that will go to local families and children,” stated PSDSRA President Derry Pence. “We love giving back to the community where our members are located and many of the industry’s employees live, and we couldn’t be more excited to partner with great local organizations like the Barrio Station and Good Neighbor Project.”
The PSDSRA hosts the annual toy drive in partnership with the Barrio Station. Each year, more than 100 of its member companies donate toys and give them to local Barrio Logan families and children who are not always able to receive a gift during the holiday season. Many of the PSDSRA’s members call Barrio Logan home, so the Association has a strong commitment to giving back to their community all throughout the year. The annual toy drive is just one of many events that General Dynamics NASSCO, BAE Systems, Pacific Ship Repair and other shipyards and their suppliers are involved with in their efforts to support the Barrio Logan community.
“The annual toy drive is another example of how the ship building and repair industry gives back to its local communities,” continued Pence. “Our organization places a strong emphasis on being a good neighbor and contributing to the success of the local economy. The toy drive is a small but significant act in that effort. We look forward to participating in this toy drive for years to come.”
Nearly 700 toys were collected and loaded into trucks at Continental Maritime of San Diego, one of the three major shipyards located in Barrio Logan, early Friday morning and were then delivered to the Barrio Station. The toys will be distributed by the Barrio Station to local families and children who are in need this holiday season.
The Port of San Diego Ship Repair Association is an organization of more than 100 member companies in the ship repair and ship building industry and was founded in 1982. The Association works to promote the economic well-being of San Diego’s private sector ship repair and building industry by partnering with the U.S. Navy to forecast and obtain adequate levels of funding for ship depot maintenance. It works to educate their members on environmental protection and employment opportunities, skills training and community outreach. The Association also works to educate and create greater public awareness regarding the contributions made by its industry to the City’s economic base, the community at large and the defense of the country.
The Barrio Station is a grassroots community based organization created in 1970 as an after school “safe haven” for the high risk youth of Logan Heights and neighboring communities in San Diego. Barrio Station provides, free-of-charge, adult-supervised academic enrichment, recreation programs, counseling and community service activities to inner-city youth who are vulnerable to negative peer pressure, educational failure, substance abuse, gang involvement, consequential physical and emotional trauma, and detention in the juvenile justice system. The programs and services offered at Barrio Station are effective alternatives for many kids who are faced with slim choices due to community high risk factors. Barrio Station also provides advocacy and leadership development support to improve the quality of life for the youth and their families.
The Good Neighborhood Project of San Diego offers inner-city youth and their families an opportunity to participate in local events and fishing programs. Through this program, youth are given a chance to experience educational enrichment, life skills development and physical wellness. The Good Neighbor Project places special emphasis on activities that encourage character and life skills development, through mentoring and education. Programs are offered in conjunction with businesses and other nonprofits in the community.
