By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
A constant parade of cool rides – classic vehicles, muscle cars, hot rods, and more – will cruise Route 66 in Yukon this Thursday.
And it’s all for a fun and worthwhile cause.
Yukon Main Street and the Yukon 66 Main Street Association will present the Third Annual “Cruise-in for a Cause” from 5-9 p.m. Sept. 16.
Cruise-in for a Cause is a passive leisure, open cruise on Yukon’s iconic Route 66. There is no admission charge, and any type of vehicle is welcome.
Yukon Sharing, Manna Pantry, Compassionate Hands, and Canadian County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) will benefit from funds raised and products donated.
Yukon Sharing, Manna Pantry and Compassionate Hands have participated since Cruise-in for a Cause began in September 2019. This is Canadian County CASA’s first time.
“We are excited to be involved again this year!” Yukon Sharing Director Missy King said. “The soup donations mean so much to us and the monetary gifts are going to help us be able to purchase meat that we desperately need to give to people in need.”
The third Thursday in September has become Yukon’s designated cruise date.
Several hundred vehicles came out in 2020, and organizers expect another strong turnout Thursday night.
“Anyone can cruise ‘at will’ throughout the event,” Yukon Main Street Director Vicki Davis said. “This is a great opportunity for people to enjoy the thrill of Route 66 with others in a fun and unique way.”
With this being an “open cruise”, donations are not collected through an admission charge from each cruiser.
Instead, attendees are asked to give at donation stations during the event.
Some participants registered in advance for some 50 “Park and Show” spaces in the 400 block.
“We’re asking our Main Street retailers to stay open an extra hour, until 7 p.m., to encourage people to browse and shop,” Davis said.
Cruise-in for a Cause began in 2019 to celebrate Yukon’s portion of the Mother Road by creating a vision of yesteryear with vintage, classic, muscle, and late-model vehicles lining Route 66/Main Street.
TIME TO GIVE …
The participating non-profits will host product drives at their advocacy booths at S Fifth and Main:
• Yukon Sharing needs canned soup. Tagline is “Soup for the Soul.”
• Manna Pantry needs peanut butter and jelly and mac and cheese. Tagline is “Peanut Butter and Jelly and Mac and Cheese – Donate to the Pantry … Please, Please, Please”.
• Compassionate Hands needs toilet paper. Tagline is “Roll Out the Support.”
• Canadian County CASA needs fast-food gift cards to take foster kids on fun outings. Tagline is “Cards for Kids.”
These four causes have plans for the funds collected before and during the event – and from half of the paid “Park & Show” entries.
This is what they will purchase with these donated monies:
• Yukon Sharing – Meat, which is often in short supply and getting more expensive.
• Manna Pantry – Shelving for its new, larger facility set to open this fall.
• Compassionate Hands – Fuel for two accessible vans that take seniors and residents with disabilities to medical appointments and personal errands.
• Canadian County CASA – Advocacy for abused and neglected children in foster care.
There will be several special attractions at Thursday night’s benefit car cruise:
• “Mr. Rock ‘n Roll” Ronnie Kaye will play car cruise tunes and provide ride spotlights from the disc jockey stage near Fourth and Main.
• The MoJo R/C Speedway will offer a radio-control car track at Old Mill Plaza near Third and Elm.
• A State Farm “photo stop” will be staged in front of the Yukon Mill mural near Third and Main.
• Three food trucks will be offered at N Fifth and Main.
• Eleven retailers and restaurants will participate in a poker run for some great prizes.
• A free drawing for prizes (including an Oklahoma City Zoo family membership) will be at the Yukon Main Street booth near Fourth and Main.
For more information, stop by the Yukon Main Street office at 528 W Main, call (405) 350-5999 or visit yukon66mainstreet.com
