thedrifter
12-05-08, 07:30 AM
Corvette convoy to deliver holiday gifts to Marines
December 4, 2008 - 9:54 PM
Matt Tessnear
Sun Journal
About 100 Corvettes, all filled with toys and food for Marine families, will fill the highways between New Bern and Jacksonville on Saturday morning.
The Twin Rivers Corvette Club will make its 16th Annual Toy Run to Marine Corps Air Station New River to deliver holiday gifts to members of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26.
About 40 Corvettes from a Myrtle Beach, S.C., group are expected to join the New Bern-area drivers for the event, said John Mitchell, a member of the Twin Rivers club.
"Most of these Marines are young guys with families," Mitchell said. "You can imagine what it's like to have children and live on Marine pay."
Club members took only toys to the Marines when the Corvette event began 16 years ago. Mike Casey and other members later decided to take food, too.
The club started with bags of groceries and nonperishable meals. It recently partnered with the Food Lion near the base to give the Marines vouchers for free turkeys and hams.
Drivers will meet at Twin Rivers Mall on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in New Bern and leave at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Mitchell said people do not have to drive a Corvette to participate. He drove a Chrysler last year and was at the back of the line of cars.
"You can drive a Datsun 360Z, as long as you get at the end of the line," Mitchell said. "We just want to help out, and this shows we're not just a bunch of guys driving around in fancy cars."
Ellie
December 4, 2008 - 9:54 PM
Matt Tessnear
Sun Journal
About 100 Corvettes, all filled with toys and food for Marine families, will fill the highways between New Bern and Jacksonville on Saturday morning.
The Twin Rivers Corvette Club will make its 16th Annual Toy Run to Marine Corps Air Station New River to deliver holiday gifts to members of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26.
About 40 Corvettes from a Myrtle Beach, S.C., group are expected to join the New Bern-area drivers for the event, said John Mitchell, a member of the Twin Rivers club.
"Most of these Marines are young guys with families," Mitchell said. "You can imagine what it's like to have children and live on Marine pay."
Club members took only toys to the Marines when the Corvette event began 16 years ago. Mike Casey and other members later decided to take food, too.
The club started with bags of groceries and nonperishable meals. It recently partnered with the Food Lion near the base to give the Marines vouchers for free turkeys and hams.
Drivers will meet at Twin Rivers Mall on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in New Bern and leave at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Mitchell said people do not have to drive a Corvette to participate. He drove a Chrysler last year and was at the back of the line of cars.
"You can drive a Datsun 360Z, as long as you get at the end of the line," Mitchell said. "We just want to help out, and this shows we're not just a bunch of guys driving around in fancy cars."
Ellie