For over 30 years, the mission of the Carter County Car Club has been simple – provide interaction downtown and assist the children of the community.
After finishing up a successful stretch cruise-in events downtown, members are getting in the holiday spirit with Christmas right around the corner.
The club held their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Nov. 28, to present checks to different organizations and provided an update on their overall donation totals throughout the year.
Each year, the club utilizes the cruise-in events and their annual all-day car show to raise funds for various children’s charities. Carter County Car Club president Bob Livingston added it was a successful year with the club raising $11,000.
“We appreciate the support each year,” Livingston said. “Each year, our goal is to what we can to help the children.”
During Monday’s meeting, the club presented checks to the Elizabethton and Carter County school systems and Barbara Presnell with the Children’s Evangelism Fellowship. The total funds provided to those groups, along with the Boys & Girls Club of Elizabethton and Friends Down Syndrome Program and others combined for a total of $5,500.
“We appreciate the support,” Presnell told attendees Monday night.
Presnell helps spearhead the local Children’s Evangelism Fellowship (CFE) program, which services Carter, Washington, Unicoi, Sullivan and Johnson counties. CFE is a Bible-centered organization composed of born-again believers whose purpose is to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to establish them in the Word of God and in a local church for Christian living. The group utilizes different tools for ministries, including the Good News Club and 5-Day Club.
“Since September, we’ve been able to serve of 1,800 kids,” Presnell added. “Over half of those children came from Carter County.
The Carter County School System was also a beneficiary Monday night and Dr. Kevin Ward, the school system’s superintendent. Funds provided from the school were geared to the school system’s accelerated reader program.
While providing an update on the funds, Dr. Ward shared a story involving former teacher Tommy Jenkins and a paint can from one of the former stores in downtown Elizabethton.
The superintendent shared a laugh with attendees, mentioning that when parents would come in to speak with him, the paint can, which had an “ugly green color”, was a hot topic of discussion while set up in his office.
But while providing some laughs, Dr. Ward expressed his gratitude to the organization for what they do for children, and what they’ve done for the downtown.
Also receiving a check was Bekah Price, public relations coordinator for the Elizabethton City School System. The system utilizes their own reading program and are involved with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
“It’s a foundational place to start,” Price said about reading. “Just supporting the growth (of children) through education … we just want to say thanks for all you do.”
The Carter County Car Club also utilized $4,500 to be used for the Salvation Army Christmas Angel Tree program. The members will descend upon Wal-Mart on Wednesday, Dec. 7, to help spread holiday cheer to children buy purchasing presents for their “angels” from the tree.