Several Cape Cod businesses have joined forces with Heroes in Transition to come to the aid of the roughly 11-hundred Coast Guard members stationed across the Cape and Islands. Those members have gone without a paycheck since December 31st because of the partial government shutdown.
The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, Cape Cod Coffee, Marshland Restaurants and Heroes in Transition have organized Care 4 Our Coasties, a campaign to collect essential items for Coast Guard service members and their families that will run through January 31st even if the shutdown ends before then.
Christina Bologna is the Marketing Officer for the Coop.
"It's really been a hardship for many families here on the Cape. Heroes in Transition is an organization that is focused on helping our military families but more than Coast Guard families are affected. National Seashore employees have gone without pay as well. It's really affecting so many people on the Cape so whatever we can do to help we want to be able to step up and do that."
Bologna says items such as paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, free and clear laundry detergent, dish soap, and kitchen trash bags can be dropped off at any Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod location. They can also be dropped off at Cape Cod Coffee and Marshland Restaurants and Bakery locations.