As the years go by, the mission of the Carter County Car Club continues to stay the same.
The organization continues to stay busy each summer with their annual cruise-in events but this week has seen the club finalizing the preparation process for the 35th annual car and motorcycle show, scheduled to take place Saturday, July 8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Elizabethton.
An annual mainstay in Elizabethton, the show serves as the organization primary vehicle of raising funds for different causes in the Elizabethton and Carter County area.
Entry fee for cars and motorcycles is pegged at $20 while admission is free for the general public. A variety of awards will be presented at 3 p.m.
To close out the night, the regularly scheduled cruise-in event will roll over and start from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The club was founded in 1982 and has continued a staunch presence within the community by hosting the various automobile shows to raise money for various children’s charities. Some of the charities that benefit from the organization include the Salvation Army Christmas Angel Tree Program, Friends Down Syndrome Program, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Boys & Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter County, Carter County Schools Accelerated Reader Program and Children’s Evangelism Fellowship
Bob Livingston, president of the Carter County Car Club, recently told the Elizabethton Star that each cruise-in event features a barrel at the entrance of the show that is used to receive donations throughout the months.
“It depends honestly,” O.B. Foster, vice president of the organization, recently stated about financial projections for 2017.  “But (the cruise-in event) is always a great time. Our annual car show is our biggest fundraiser but we have a barrel for when people come in to donate to our multiple charities during each of the Cruise-Ins.”
For 2016, the Carter County Club raised $11,000. The club was able to use $4,500 to benefit the Salvation Army’s program.
Following Saturday’s event, the cruise-in events will continue each Saturday, weather permitting, until October 27.
To learn more about the mission of the organization, visit www.cartercountycarclubtn.com or the cartercountycarclub.com on Facebook.