Groton — For the second consecutive year, the crew of the North Dakota donated toys to a local childcare facility for the holiday season.

Electronics Technician Seaman Apprentice Lucas Pickering and other members of the submarine’s crew who volunteer in the local community thought of the holiday gift-giving idea. The North Dakota (SSN 784) is a Virginia-class submarine under construction at Electric Boat. They collected toys at holiday parties in December.

Sailors brought the toys on Dec. 3 to the Riverfront Children’s Center, which provides affordable childcare and educational services for more than 100 children of low-income families. The center is near EB.

“Since Riverfront is so close to where our boat is being constructed, we wanted to give back to the local community, especially the children,” Pickering said.

Last year the crew donated nearly 200 toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots Program.