Associate Editor Aileen Mack joined Dockwalk in July 2018. She is a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. If she’s not at a concert or coffee shop, she is lost in a book, movie or a YouTube rabbit hole. Email Aileen at aileen@dockwalk.com.
For the third Thanksgiving season, Captain Daryn Dalton of S7 and former chief stew Randi Barry, now of Nautic Nomad, are giving back to the community they call home. Their campaign Yachting Loves Florida is partnering with Henderson Behavioral Health, an organization that has served South Florida for more than 70 years and works with clients who are homeless or indigent and face severe and persistent mental health challenges.
Grateful to celebrate the holiday with family and friends, Daryn and Randi recognize that many in the Fort Lauderdale and South Florida community don’t have the same access to the benefits of the yachting industry. This inspired them to create a meaningful way for the yachting community to give back.
“Rather than donating to larger organizations where funds can be lost to administrative costs, we chose to collaborate with local professionals who are directly helping individuals in crisis. These efforts ensure that people receive essential items,” Randi shares.
In addition to fundraising for holiday dinners, Yachting Loves Florida is seeking donations of clothing, shoes, socks, towels, washcloths, deodorant, body wash, lotion, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and non-perishable foods. These will help create toiletry bags and fresh clothing packages for individuals in need. Physical donations can be dropped off at Reardon Yachting at 1111 SE 3rd Ave in Fort Lauderdale, and monetary contributions can be made at their GoFundMe: gofundme.com/f/yachtinglovesflorida3. The last day to make a contribution is Friday, November 22.