TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

NAPA joins Toys for Tots

ADVERTISEMENT

By YVETTE C. HAMMETT

yhammett@tampatrib.com

Published: November 4, 2009

BRANDON - Anyone donating a toy at a select group of auto repair shops this year will walk away with more than just a warm feeling.

They also will get a free oil change, compliments of the NAPA Business Development Group, a co-op of local auto care centers dedicating a portion of its membership funds to the toy drive.

Tom Blanchard, a co-owner of Brandon Tire and Auto Service Center in Valrico, has delivered toy bins to 15 auto centers in Hillsborough County. Numerous other NAPA Auto Parts stores will also participate as drop-off locations.

"We started this group in Hillsborough County just six months ago. We talked about what to do with the balance of our funds by the end of the year," Blanchard said. The group zeroed in on Toys for Tots.

When a gift valued at $20 or more is dropped off at a participating shop, the donor will receive a free oil change. To add a little icing on the holiday cupcake, Valrico Chick-fil-A owner Jeff Jones is throwing in a free sandwich for anyone who comes in his store and shows their receipt for the free oil change.

"We approached the Marines about doing this, and they were all over it immediately," Blanchard said. The Marines will provide soldiers in dress uniform at any location requested, he said.

"With the military stuff going on and us being a business able to give back to the community, this fit," Blanchard said.

Toys for Tots was started by a Marine major in 1947 in Los Angeles. The program was so successful that it was expanded nationwide the following year. To date, the Marines' effort has resulted in the collection of more than 402 million toys.

In the past 10 years, Marines have distributed an average of 15 million toys annually to needy children throughout the United States.

In Hillsborough County alone, there are dozens of drop-off locations and 22 sites designated for distribution, said Staff Sgt. Sadi Workman, who is heading the effort for Hillsborough County.

"If people go to our Web site, they can find out where all the drop-off and distribution sites are and how to sign up to become a recipient and what they need to bring," Workman said. The Web site can be found at www.tampa-fl.toysfortots.org.

The collection kick-off is Friday.

Workman said the Web site will be updated with new drop-off locations.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 627-4763.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT