Coast Guardsmen volunteer at Jacksonville Ronald McDonald House

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Members from Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville and the Afloat Training Group gathered in front of the Jacksonville-based Ronald McDonald House, Thursday Jan. 24, 2013. Members spent the day participating in grounds beautification, interior cleaning, moving furniture and hosted a cookout for the families. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Potter.

ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. — Members from Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville in Atlantic Beach and the Coast Guard Afloat Training Group, based at Naval Station Mayport, participated in a voluntary cleanup day at the Jacksonville-based Ronald McDonald House Thursday.

Coast Guardsmen completed grounds beautification, interior cleaning and moving furniture and ended the day with a cookout for the families.

"The Coast Guard being here is great," said Cat McCarroll, event and marketing manager for the Ronald McDonald House. " In addition to all the work that they have done today they have changed what would have been an ordinary day for the families into a fun and exciting day."

The Ronald McDonald House is a non-profit organization that provides a “home-away-from-home” for families so they can stay close to their hospitalized children at little or no cost.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Members from Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville complete yard work in the courtyard of the Jacksonville-based Ronald McDonald House, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013. Coast Guardsmen from Sector Jacksonville and the Afloat Training Group participated in grounds beautification, interior cleaning, moving furniture and hosted a cookout for the families. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Potter.