Members of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade paid a visit to the Gentle Hands Orphanage during a Marine exercise in the Philippines.

Gentle Hands, a Christian child and youth welfare agency, provides shelter and care to children ranging in ages from birth to high school.

The orphanage is currently home to 50 people.

The Marines helped with heavy lifting, moving bags of cement and rebar, played with the children, and generally just spent time with them.

“Events like this will build memories that last a lifetime,” said [Brigade Chaplain] Navy Cmdr. Jack L. Caver…”It’s really nice to be able to give back to the community. We’re showing gratitude for the things they do for us.”

The “community relations project” helped the community, but it also may have helped some of the Marines.