Sixteen crew members of the US Navy ship USS Cole volunteered to help the Richmond Foundation hostel in Floriana spruce up their building while their ship was in Grand Harbour at the weekend.

The Richmond Foundation is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation which for the past 15 years has provided rehabilitative and preventative services to promote community mental health.

The hostel provides accommodation with 24-hour support.

US Ambassador Molly Bordonaro and Richmond Foundation CEO Doris Gauci visited the residents and volunteers as they worked together in the hostel. Ambassador Bordonaro and Ms Gauci expressed their appreciation for the generosity of the volunteers in dedicating their free time to this worthy cause.