Veterans Empowered Together (V.E.T.) will host its second annual Fill the Humvee, collecting items to support Toys for Tots this Saturday. After a successful inaugural drive last year, the organization has added a second humvee.
The event will run from 12-3 p.m. at Meijer off KY 54.
Last year, the veteran-led and veteran-centric nonprofit raised more than 700 toys by filling one humvee multiple times. This year, with a second humvee, they have aspirations to double that number.
“Lou Drawdy was the mastermind behind it – he’s been doing Toys for Tots for years,” said V.E.T. Executive Director Brian Basham. “He’s also a veteran and partners with the Marine League. We became connected and haven’t looked back ever since.”
The fundraiser will feature both a green- and a sand-colored humvee. Volunteers, donors, and passersby can also stop to catch all or some of the Army vs. Navy Football game on a large television.
“It’s a great time for everyone involved,” he said. “Several businesses are helping us, and we can’t thank Meijer enough. They took a chance on last year’s event and are 100% behind us.”
Basham added that the group wants to expand on their mission of Veterans helping Veterans, and said they can impact the greater community with this event.
“The main reason we wanted to do it and we’re excited about it is because 100% of the toys will stay in our community,” he said. “We want to make sure every kid in the community has a present to open.”
