Operation Open Arms has found a new partner in its efforts to help soldiers who are home on leave.
Cape Coral’s Sea Tow has decided to offer free towing services for fishing boat captains who run into difficulty while out on the water with OOA charters.
Founder John “Giddyup” Bunch said he ran into some trouble while out on the water last year, when it occurred to him that other captains in OOA’s program might encounter the same difficulties.
“Any guide that’s listed on the (OOA) Web page never has to worry about breaking down. If they do, Sea Tow will have them in their database and they’ll get free towing,” he said.
Captains have to be out with an OOA charter in order to get free towing. If they have any problem at all, Sea Tow will make certain they are towed back safely, free of charge.
Bunch said he reached out to Mark Atherley of Sea Tow to negotiate the deal, which also includes a discount for veterans’ own boats, which has been dubbed the Giddy Up Vet Sea Tow Discount.
Atherley said he was happy to accept Bunch’s offer, as it gives him and the company the opportunity to give back to the community.
“You give back as much as you can,” he said. “And Giddyup is doing a great job, he goes above and beyond. I wish more people would do the same thing.”
Facing financial difficulties of late, Bunch said he feared that OOA might not live past April.
He said his optimism has been renewed, as the community, like the folks at Sea Tow, have been ramping up their efforts to make certain the successful program lives on.
“I’m more optimistic than I was,” Bunch said.
For more information on Operation Open Arms, visit the Web site at: operationopenarms.org.