PANAMA CITY, Panama -- U.S. servicemembers and Panama´s National Air and Maritime Service personnel banded together Dec. 19 to spread holiday cheer at a local orphanage and two children’s hospitals, presenting kids with more than 350 donated toys.

The U.S. servicemembers, in Panama for the Southern Partnership Station (SPS) mission, spent some of their free time to distribute stuffed animals by the sackful.  The toys were donated through Project Handclasp, a U.S. Navy program dedicated to using cargo space on Navy ships to transport privately donated humanitarian goods to foreign ports.

Volunteers went from ward to ward and house-to-house with pillowcases of colorful plush toys slung like Santa sacks over their white uniforms. According to Navy Cmdr. Christopher Barnes, SPS mission commander, the community relations project suited the nature of the broader mission, which aims to enhance the capabilities of Panamanian defense forces through classroom instruction and hands-on training.

"Anytime we´re given the opportunity to show our compassionate side, I think that goes a long way toward serving the message of this mission,” said Barnes.

The children weren´t the only ones to benefit from the project, as the emotional impact of caring for ailing and needy children deeply affected the volunteers.

"We had just as much fun giving out the toys as they did receiving them," said Barnes. "The smiling faces on every child were enough to bring everyone to tears."

Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Howard LeRoy of Clayton Corners, N.Y., said the rewarding nature of community relations projects like this plays a part in his decision to volunteer, especially during holidays away from home.

"I have a 6-year-old. I´m not there with her this year and I´m a big kid myself, so I need every chance to play with kids, and give them things and make them smile." said LeRoy, who often volunteers with the American Legion when not at sea. "I chose to come out here and see a bunch of smiles because it makes our holiday a little bit brighter, too."

LeRoy said he´s seen many aspects of working for the Navy, and this brand of work trumps them all.

"One little girl came up and hugged me. She got the biggest bear in the bag," said LeRoy with a laugh. "She earned it."

Servicemembers also gave their time Saturday to a renovation project at Hogar Maria Guadaloupe, a local home for pregnant teens, where SPS participants installed fans, improved landscaping, and thoroughly cleaned the premises in preparation for the arrival of the building´s new residents.

SPS is coordinated through U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet (NAVSO/ 4^thFleet) with partner nations to meet their specific training needs. As the Naval Component Command of SOUTHCOM, NAVSO’s mission is to direct U.S. Naval Forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, Theater Security Cooperation, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.

Fourth Fleet is the numbered fleet assigned to NAVSO, exercising operational control of assigned forces in the SOUTHCOM area of focus.