NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Dec. 20, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Newport News sector and the United Steelworkers of America (Local 8888), joined together for the sector's 19th annual holiday food drive. Shipbuilders donated 6,800 pounds of non-perishable food items and made monetary contributions totaling $4,061 to benefit the FoodBank of the Virginia Peninsula.
The food drive was held Nov. 21 through Dec. 9. Collection boxes were placed inside designated buildings, warehouses, piers, docks and trailers. Monetary donations were accepted for the purchase of perishable food items such as meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables.
"I'm extremely proud of our employees and pleased with the union's efforts to make our food drive successful," said Margaret Blackwell, director of equal employment opportunity, diversity and community relations at Northrop Grumman Newport News. "We were concerned that charitable giving might be down this year because of Hurricane Katrina and other disaster relief efforts, but our shipbuilders stepped up to the plate and gave generously to help make the holidays a little brighter for those in need this holiday season."
To increase collection efforts, several departments and buildings held competitions and raffles to increase food and money donations. This was the first year the union sponsored the food drive with the shipyard.
Northrop Grumman Newport News, headquartered in Newport News, Va., is the nation's sole designer, builder, and refueler of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and one of only two companies capable of designing and building nuclear powered submarines. Newport News also provides after-market services for a wide array of naval and commercial vessels. The Newport News sector employs about 19,000 people.