Goodyear is turning over the services of one of its blimps to join forces with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to hold the third annual joint maneuver to benefit the Toys for Tots Foundation.
The benefit, featuring the rechristened "Santa Claus Express," will take place at Goodyear’s blimp base in Suffield, Ohio, on Nov. 30-Dec. 2. A similar program will take place at Goodyear’s blimp hangar in Carson, Calif., on Dec. 15-16.
The first two drive-through events in Akron in 2010 and 2011 saw a combined 4,942 vehicles drop off 12,534 toys and collect $16,343. All cash and toys go to the Toys for Tots program.
Open to drive-through vehicle traffic only, the 800-foot-long blimp hangar will be filled with holiday music and decorated in the holiday spirit as Santa waves from the blimp’s gondola to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. A contingent of Marines in dress blues will be on duty to collect and organize the toys for distribution to needy children in the Akron-Canton area.