Tunes for Tots was a day full of music, fun, and face painting, all to benefit families and kids in our area.
"It's $5 to come in. Everything that we raise stays local and goes to benefit the local families here for toys for tots," the event coordinator for the event, Michelle Egnot said.
With the sun out, and a slight breeze near the water, there was a flow of people coming to have a good time and help a good cause, all throughout the day.
"The community involvement has been fantastic. This event is really the event of the summer. We're on the bay at the Sloppy Duck. The weather is beautiful. People like to come out, have a good meal, listen to some good music," Egnot said.
Toys for Tots distributed over 20,000 toys last year, which helped support over 6,000 children right here in Erie.
"Just everything that we do, all the events that we do, all the money we fundraise, all goes to this one day of distribution day, which is in December, right before Christmas, when we get to hand the family the bag of toys," 1st Sgt. Derek Patrick with the U.S. Marines, Toys for Tots coordinator, said.
The 2023 U.S.O.A. Mrs. Pennsylvania Carly Brigaman has volunteered for Toys for Tots for the past three years. She came to support the event and the cause.
"Toys for Tots is really important to support because everybody else needs help at some point, and we do have a lot of families in Erie County that do need that little bit of help, and it's okay to ask for help. . . What's better to help than somebody else? It's just good for your heart and it's as good brings good to the community," Brigaman said.