Erie's US Coast Guard is willing to go some extra miles to help those in need.

It's part of the first annual Presque Isle 1,000, a food drive benefiting the Second Harvest Food Bank.
Every Saturday and Sunday through the end of the year, you can stop by the Coast Guard station on the Peninsula, and donate.

"That's what we're here for is to help people, and I'm a big believer in helping people that are less fortunate so that was the main idea behind it all," said Officer Robert Beresh with Erie's US Coast Guard.

Officer Beresh organized the fundraiser, he got the idea from a Coast Guard station where he worked in Oregon.
During the next several weeks, they're hoping to collect 1,000 non-perishable food items, and they're willing to work it.

"Essentially for every non-perishable food item that is donated here the Coast Guard members will run one mile for each item," said Officer Robert Beresh with Erie's US Coast Guard.

They'll also bike or swim a mile for each item.

And here's a bonus, anybody who drops off a donation will get an opportunity to tour the facility, the boats, and meet a few officers.