A car wash will be held at the Skyline Boulevard 7-Eleven Saturday, July 31 for a Cape Coral solder who was wounded in Afghanistan earlier this month.
Keith Campbell, a member of the 7-Eleven franchise community, said they wanted to do something to pay back Army Pfc. Corey Kent because he has been a customer of “our stores for years and a few of his family members work for 7-Eleven.”
“The franchise organization all wanted to do something to pay back the local hero,” he said.
Kent, who is a 2006 graduate of Mariner High School, graduated from the Field Artillery Automated Tactical Systems Specialist Advanced Individual Training course at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.
He was involved in an attack that occurred at roughly 3 a.m. eastern standard time on Monday, July 12, in an improvised explosive device explosion while on dismounted foot patrol with his squad in Afghanistan. As a result, the 21-year-old lost his right leg up to his hip, his left leg to his thigh and fingers on his left hand.
“I come from a long line of military people so I am always doing something for them,” Campbell said.
He said members of Kent’s family approached him and asked him if there was anything 7-Eleven could do to help the family.
After they brainstormed ideas, he contacted the local 7-Eleven office and they “gave us a go ahead.”
In addition to the carwash, which will be held Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 2604 Skyline Blvd., Campbell said they also began a canister drive late Friday.
“It’s doing well,” he said. “Every little dollar will help the family.”
“We are looking for a good turnout from the community,” he said, so they can help raise money for them.
He said the corporate office has asked him to also take pictures and get quotes from individuals attending the car wash to put in the 7-Eleven newsletter.
“Everything I do is team oriented,” he said.
Campbell said Kent is doing well and is now in Washington, D.C. He went into surgery early Monday morning.
For more information, call (239) 242-0018.