Marine community unites for Toys for Tots of Volusia County

Nearly 1,100 toys collected — half by Atlantic Marine of Port Orange.

By Jennifer Kirschner
| 2:52 p.m. December 18, 2018

Atlantic Marine's 2018 "Stuff A Boat" Toy Drive. Photo by Nik Foster

Atlantic Marine's 2018 "Stuff A Boat" Toy Drive. Photo by: Jack Wiles

Aloha Marine's 2018 "Stuff A Boat" Toy Drive. Photo by: Nik Foster

Boaters Exchange's 2018 "Stuff A Boat" Toy Drive. Photo by: Nik Foster

Freedom Boat Club's 2018 "Stuff A Boat" Toy Drive. Photo by: Nik Foster

Gerry's Marina's 2018 "Stuff A Boat" Toy Drive. Photo by: Nik Foster

Halifax Harbor Marina's 2018 "Stuff A Boat" Toy Drive. Photo by: Nik Foster

Suntex Marina's 2018 "Stuff A Boat" Toy Drive. Photo by: Nik Foster

North Causeway Marine's 2018 "Stuff A Boat" Toy Drive. Photo by: Nik Foster

"Stuff A Boat" Toy Drive 2018. Photo by: Nik Foster

Ormond Beach Observer
Business

Atlantic Marine of Port Orange hosted a grand Christmas party for the community to collect hundreds of toys for local families on Dec. 6. Admission to the party at their Dunlawton Avenue location was one unwrapped toy. There was live entertainment by Dave Alexander, and small plates were provided by Millie's Restaurant, Outriggers Tiki Bar & Grill, Cinnamon Tree Cafe and Sazon Latino. One dollar raffle tickets were sold for prizes.

Atlantic Marine owner Brad Wiles and staff accepted the second-annual Stuff a Boat challenge from Capt. Nik Foster of Sea Tow. Foster challenged nine local marine-related businesses to collect as many toys as they could for Toys for Tots of Volusia County. To make it a little competitive and to collect as many toys as possible, Foster came up with the idea to give a champion belt to the business that collected the most toys.

"The idea was that we as a marine boating community could put together something and do some good around Christmas time." said Foster.

The Stuff A Boat toy drive for 2018 collected just under 1,100 toys, and all toys went to local families.

The participants were Aloha Marine, Atlantic Marine, Boaters Exchange, Gerry's Marina, Freedom Boat Club, Halifax Harbor Marina, Inlet Harbor Marina, Suntex Marina, North Causeway Marine and Sea Tow.

Atlantic Marine is proud to announce that they have been triumphant both years and are the current Stuff a Boat belt holder in the county. They collected over 500 toys in 2018.

Foster was thrilled with the drive and said, "It's definitely a really cool thing when boaters and the marine community are able to kind of come together for a good cause. All the effort and energy that everyone put in to it is really humbling."