LINCOLNTON––They’re cruising for some very worthy causes indeed.
They’re the members of the Westside Cruisers of Lincolnton. And according to group spokesman Jason Ingle, the Cruisers will hold a benefit swap meet and cruise-in on Saturday, April 16, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., at 311 Motz Ave. in Lincolnton. The rain date is April 23. The event will feature arts, crafts, automotive parts, food and more. The purpose, as Ingle explained, is to benefit local children and the less fortunate, and all the monies raised will go to charity.
As he told The Herald on Tuesday, this will be the second annual such event. Last year’s event brought in 63 vendors, and the Cruisers’ goal is to more than double that for this year. They’re looking for more vendors right now.
How did the Westside Cruisers get started as an organization? Ingle told us just how this group of more than 50 members came together.
It all began, he said, “just like 90 percent of all car clubs: a few friends hanging out talking and working on their cars with friends in one of their garages at one of their houses. The club president, Mike Sipe, suggested that we should start a car club. One thing led to another, and the Westside Cruisers were born. It’s a group of guys and gals that love cars and being with friends and family. We meet the first Monday of every month at Caputo’s in Cherryville, and we have a monthly cruise-in the fourth Sunday of every month in downtown Lincolnton.
“The whole objective is to have fun and raise money for local charities, families in need and kids!” he continued. “After all, if you have kids involved with cars and show them that it’s more than getting a ride to Wal-Mart or the mall, then you will have kids that grow up wanting to have that special car or truck that they can show off on their own some day.”
Ingle added that one way the group raises money is through its annual club dues of $52 per member. The club is a total team effort, with members pitching in by helping with cooking; selling food at concert series events; and holding the cruise-in’s, the annual swap meet and general donations.
“We do not keep any of the money. All of the money raised goes to some sort of charity or family that is in need,” Ingle emphasized, citing such beneficiaries as Christian Ministries and the Lincoln County Coalition Against Child Abuse. “Every year, club members help with ‘Toys for Tots’ (the annual Christmas campaign for children’s toys, organized by the U.S. Marine Corps) by collecting toys or volunteering for sorting all the toys that come in at the distribution center.”
Ingle spoke further about the upcoming swap meet and cruise-in.
“We have opened an area for arts, crafts, local boutiques, homemade soaps, etc.,” he informed. “We have some special treats for the kids this year. We will have the Eddie Munster car, a time machine from Back to the Future, a mobile escape room, and more! The West Lincoln Band Boosters will be providing the food for their fundraising opportunity. We will have the monster truck ice cream vendor, a sweet treats truck vendor and many others. We should have something for everyone at this year’s event!”
Want to be a vendor? Want more details? Call Ingle at (704) 530-1749 or Sipe at (704) 472-4804.
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