SINGAPORE -- Ten Sailors from the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), assisted at the Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen for a community relations project during a port visit to Singapore, June 18.

While at the soup kitchen, Sailors sorted, cut and washed vegetables; cooked and packed food into lunch boxes, and prepared them for distribution to the less fortunate.

"This project allowed us to interact one-on-one with local nationals and show them what we are about as Americans and Sailors," said Aviation Maintenance Administration-man 1st Class John Walton, from Chattanooga, Tennessee. "It's about giving back and doing my part. The interactions gained today and seeing the smiles on the locals' faces is something you can't buy."

Community relations projects were established by the Department of Defense to foster and further good relations with communities around the world. They help to earn public support and understanding of operations, missions and requirements of the military services, and to increase understanding of U.S. defense posture and capabilities by increasing public exposure.

"Participating in community service projects builds relationships in many levels," said Cmdr. David Yang, command chaplain. "It builds a stronger relationship between our Sailors and host nation citizens and it strengthens the existing relationships between the U.S. Navy and the nations we are visiting."

Volunteering at the soup kitchen allowed Sailors to connect with the people of Singapore and leave a lasting, positive impression of the United States, U.S. Navy, Ronald Reagan, and its Sailors.

"It's important to be a part of something bigger than yourself," said Master-at-Arms 1st Class Emerson Exiles, from Miami. "Showing support not just through Ronald Reagan and the Navy's presence of force, but as a presence of support, community and assistance is what we came to do."

Along with the soup kitchen project, more than 200 Sailors from Carrier Strike Group 5 participated in 10 community relation projects during the four-day port visit in Singapore, with Ronald Reagan Sailors volunteering for six of those. Projects included painting and repairing a church, interacting with pre-kindergarten and kindergarten special-needs students at a school, and assisting at a food bank.

"I'm so proud of our Sailors because they gave up one of their liberty days in order to serve in the local community," said Yang. "They love interacting with the local citizens and making a difference in the lives of others. The result, in almost all cases, is our Sailors return from these community projects having received more than they were able to give. All in all, it's a win-win for everyone involved."

Ronald Reagan and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.