The Cape Coral Police Department has partnered with the Coast Guard to launch their annual “Fill the Boat” toy drive.
The event will take place Saturday and Sunday at the Walmart Supercenter on Del Prado Boulevard South from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This is the 6th straight year for the event, and roughly 2,000 toys are collected each year.
The Cape Coral event was started by Officer (and US Coast Guard Reserve) Matt Squires 6 years ago. The program was in jeopardy this year, because Squires had been called to active duty by the Coast Guard, but other officers stepped up to continue the tradition.
A Coast Guard vessel will be parked outside the entrance of Walmart for people to drop off new, unwrapped toys, which will be distributed to children in need throughout Cape Coral.
“We’re proud of our partnership with the Coast Guard and the Fill the Boat campaign that benefits this community each year,” said Lt. Tony Sizemore. “Last year marked our ten-thousandth toy collected and distributed and we’re looking to build on this tradition.”
http://www.news-press.com/article/20121205/VOLUNTEERING/121205034/1002/RSS01