Marine Corps League 708 will host Veterans and First Responders Appreciation Day, an event set to take place from 9am to 2pm on Saturday, Nov. 20, at Hernando County Fairgrounds, 6436 Broad St, Brooksville. This is an informational forum for agencies that provide help and services for veterans in need in Hernando County. The event also serves as a springboard for another worthy cause, as it also will include a 24-hour Toys for Tots toy drive that will be running from 9am on Saturday to 9 am on Sunday. “We want to show support and appreciation for the veterans. We invited veterans service agencies to come and provide information about how they can help,” said José Infante, retired Marine Corps Master Sergeant and coordinator for Hernando County Toys For Tots. Infante, co-coordinator Pedro Verge, and other TFT volunteers will be on site around the clock to accept donations.
“We hosted this 24-hour event last year at Weeki Wachee State Park,” said Infante. “This year, we’re coordinating the drive in conjunction with the veterans event, at the fairgrounds.” Infante says that new and unwrapped toys are needed for the donation drive, with toys for children ages 0-4 and 10 and over particularly needed. “We so far have 1300 kids in 600 families signed up so far this year for Toys for Tots help in Hernando County. The need is expected to grow,” he said.
Agencies represented will include the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, Veterans HEAT Factory, K-9 Partners for Patriots, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Department, Veterans Administration, Pasco-Hernando State College, and other agencies that serve vets. In addition, food trucks will be on site.
