Willow Grove volunteer firefighter Mike Drennen is currently in the Coast Guard working without pay. The fire company's chief, Lee Perlmutter, says they want to help Drennen and others in his situation.
"On Saturday, we will be collecting donations for the Coast Guard families that, due to the shutdown, are having a hard time making ends meet," Drennen said.
They're hoping people will give gift cards and nonperishable foods.
"We look at it as a unique opportunity to increase our service that we provide. We want to protect and serve," he said.
Mike's father, Rich Drennen, says he hears from his son all the time about the struggles Coast Guard families are facing right now.
"People are in need. People who are defending our coast lines and still out there working, protecting and saving people, they haven't dropped a beat, and they're in need," he said.
Donations will be collected from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the fire company on Davisville Road, which is about a mile from the Willow Grove Mall.