Virginia Dare Flotilla for Toys

            Children living around Smith Mountain Lake might spy Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer a few weeks early this year.

            But he won’t be leading Santa’s team. Instead, a 12-foot light decoration in the shape of Rudy will be mounted atop the Virginia Dare, piloting the 12th Annual Virginia Dare Flotilla for Toys Boat Parade on Dec. 5.

            Alice Swain, the Virginia Dare Marina’s general manager, who organizes the event each year, said the purpose of the flotilla is to collect toys for children in need in Bedford and Franklin counties. The toys are distributed through Lake Christian Ministries.

            Swain is passionate about the parade and what the donations mean to so many families. “Our Christmas has turned into just this – digging deep into your heart,” Swain said. “It’s not just about you, it’s about all the people that don’t have the money to buy what they need.”

            Swain said boat owners and staff at the Virginia Dare Marina didn’t put much planning into the first event 12 years ago.

            “We had a private charter booked on the boat and all the boat owners at the marina said, ‘Why don’t we have a parade?’,” Swain recalled. “That first year we had 16 boats.”

            Swain said she and her staff figured they were onto something when they received a flurry of phone calls the following week. That’s when she knew the flotilla would become an annual affair.

            The number of boats
participating in the parade has fluctuated over the years with as many as 43 participating at its peak several years ago. Swain said the number has declined in recent years with an estimated 15-16 boats taking part in last year’s event.

            “It was very small due to the economy, gas prices and the price of decorations,” said Swain. However, she added that because of “boat-pooling,” about the same number of people participated in the festivities as in previous years – an estimated 300 to 400.

            Collection points are set up at businesses around the lake to gather donations, which must be new, unwrapped items. Swain said many lake residents also schedule Christmas parties to coincide with the parade with guests asked to bring a toy to contribute to the
toy drive.

            Jim Cameron, coordinator of Lake Christian Ministries, said he’s thankful for all the donations the flotilla generates. Last year, more than 500 large bags were filled with clothes and toys. Each was distributed to one child.

            Cameron said he personally delivered two donated bikes last year to families that had requested them. The parents were so thankful, he recalled.

            “That’s kind of the fun part of playing Santa Claus,” Cameron said. “It’s Smith Mountain Lake at its best.”