Cutter lends a hand to Panamanian children's home
Story by Ensign Kelly Koch, CGC Boutwell
COAST GUARD ISLAND, ALAMEDA, Calif. – U.S. Coast Guard volunteers from the cutter Boutwell, homeported in Alameda, Calif., working in support of Project Handclasp, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Embassy in Panama, and the Panamanian coast guard, delivered three pallets of much-needed supplies to a Panamanian children's home Dec. 31, 2005 during the cutter's mid-patrol break.
The 378-foot high endurance cutter loaded the supplies during a fuel stop in San Diego last November as it headed south for its three-month counterdrug patrol. The supplies were collected by Project Handclasp and included medical supplies, hygiene products, school books and toys.
The majority of the materials were donated to Casa Hogar Tocumen, an orphanage in Tocumen,
Project Handclasp is a program that promotes peace and goodwill between the United States and foreign nations. It was established by the U.S. Navy in 1962 and its primary mission is collecting and coordinating the distribution of humanitarian, educational and goodwill materials to those in need. Project Handclasp takes donations and then uses the normal operations of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard for transporting the materials. Project Handclasp ships approximately 1.5 million pounds of charitable materials overseas annually.
The text books were donated to the school of Escuela Fuente de Amor. Escuela Fuente is a church located in a disadvantaged community and is a school and home to more than 300 elementary schoolchildren. Boutwell crewmembers also volunteered to paint the basement classrooms and correct faulty electrical wiring. Planning for the trip was no small task and required international coordination. In preparation for the Boutwell's visit, the People-to-People Coordiantor at the U.S. Embassy in Panama identified Escuela Fuente de Amor and Casa Hogar Tocumen as the two organizations that could benefit most from the cutter's assistance. Furthermore, the Deptartment of Homeland Security liasion at the embassy helped obtain the paint and electrical supplies the Boutwell's volunteer crew needed. Boutwell volunteers worked side by side at both sites with members of the Panamanian coast guard and embassy staff and family members. The VFW spouses club provided Spanish/English translation services, as well as a barbeque lunch. While at home in Alameda, Boutwell volunteers often work with the East Bay Habitat for Humanity, building homes for limited income families in the San Francisco/Oakland area. The cutter's primary missions are counterdrug operations and search and rescue. 
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