Stuff the Boat Toy Drive to Benefit Local Children

The members of the fire departments in Branchville and Sussex, along with the Sussex Ladies’ Auxiliary, will join patrons of Branchville business Off Shore Marine to fill a ski boat to the brim with toys to benefit the Season of Hope Toy Drive. It is anticipated that additional emergency responders will be joining the effort shortly. The toy drive, driven and coordinated by Project Self-Sufficiency along with a consortium of local businesses, schools and organizations, aims to gather 20,000 toys to benefit children in Sussex and northern Warren Counties this year.

The 2018 Super Air Nautique 210 is a multisport wake boat built to please the water sport enthusiast. Offering 21 feet of spacious seating, Sherri Cecchini, owner of Off Shore Marine, thought it would be put to good use during the off season to collect new, unwrapped toys for children in need. The company is accepting toy donations through Friday, December 15th.

“This collaboration between a business and the local emergency responders perfectly demonstrates the true spirit of giving during this holiday season,” commented Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency. “This community is unique in its commitment to its neighbors in need. Thousands of families will be helped by this effort. We are truly grateful.”

The toy drive is a joint effort coordinated by Project Self-Sufficiency, along with its partners The Chatterbox Drive In, First Hope Bank, Gravity DesignWorks, iHeartMedia, Inc., Intercar Mercedes Benz, Pass it Along, The Printing Center, The New Jersey Herald, Selective Insurance Company of America, Service Electric Broadband Cable, the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce, Sussex Honda, and the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots to benefit local families in need. Individuals, civic groups, and businesses have been gathering toys in anticipation of this year’s event. The Stuff the Stocking contest pitting area schools against each other in a friendly competition is also underway.

Contributions of new, unwrapped toys for the Stuff the Boat campaign will be welcomed at Off Shore Marine, 352 Route 206 in Branchville through Friday, December 15th. Gift items and monetary donations will also be gratefully received at Project Self-Sufficiency, which is located at 127 Mill Street in Newton, Monday – Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. or Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Donations are requested by December 15th in order to allow ample time for the items to be distributed to needy families. To make a donation online, or for more information, visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org or call 973-940-3500.