Wesley Chapel residents can drop a donation into a firefighter's boot at the local Tax Collector office throughout August to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Pasco Fire Rescue's annual Fill the Boot drive will run Aug. 1 through Aug. 31 at all five Pasco County Tax Collector locations, according to a July 20 news release from Tax Collector Mike Fasano's office. The campaign marks the sixth year the Tax Collector's offices have partnered with Pasco Firefighters Charities for the MDA fundraiser, the release states.

The Wesley Chapel office is located at Compark 75, 4610 Pet Lane, Suite C101, Lutz, FL 33559. It's open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon for Pasco County residents.

"It is an honor to assist Pasco Fire Rescue once again with the annual MDA Fill the Boot drive," Fasano said in the announcement. "Over the past several years our staff and a very generous community have come together to support this important organization."

The partnership has grown steadily. The drive raised $2,800 in 2021. By 2024, the total reached $8,000. Last year's campaign brought in $10,000, which Fasano and Chief Deputy Tax Collector Tim Couet presented to Lisa Brekke, director of Firefighters Charities of Pasco, at a firefighters' event.

Brekke called the partnership a key part of the charity's local fundraising and noted the Fill the Boot program is a national tradition among firefighters dating to 1954.

All proceeds go to MDA, which funds research and treatment for muscular dystrophy, ALS and more than 300 other neuromuscular conditions.

Residents who prefer not to visit an office in person can donate online through the Pasco TC Gives portal at govhub.com/fl-pasco/tcgives/donate. Donations can also be mailed to Pasco County Tax Collector's Office, P.O. Box 276, Dade City, FL 33526-0276.

The other four Tax Collector locations accepting donations are New Port Richey (West Pasco Government Center, 8731 Citizens Drive, Room 120), Gulf Harbors (4720 U.S. Highway 19, New Port Richey), Land O'Lakes (Central Pasco Government Center, 4135 Land O'Lakes Blvd.) and Dade City (East Pasco Government Center, 14236 6th St., Room 100).

For more information, residents can contact Brekke at 727-366-9622 or Assistant Tax Collector Greg Giordano at 727-847-8179.