By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
More than $2,400 was raised to benefit four Yukon-area non-profit groups at a Route 66 car cruise.
The third annual “Cruise-in for a Cause” was Sept. 16 on Main Street. Hundreds of vehicles cruised along the Mother Road in downtown Yukon during the four-hour event.
“It was a steady stream of vehicles,” Yukon Main Street Director Vicki Davis said.
The help causes that will benefit are:
- Canadian County CASA – $501.78
- Compassionate Hands – $482.78
- Manna Pantry – $572.78
- Yukon Sharing Ministry – $852.74
“Comparatively, these are incredible numbers,” Davis said. “One of our major goals for this year’s event was to emphasize the ‘Cause’ portion of Cruise-in for a Cause, encouraging attendees to come prepared to donate both in contribution at the donation stations and the product drives.
“We couldn’t be more pleased how the support for our causes really resonated with the community this year.”
Attendees enjoyed visiting with owners to learn more about their vehicles.
“Mr. Rock ‘n Roll” Ronnie Kaye played car cruise tunes and provided ride spotlights from the disc jockey stage near Fourth and Main.
The MoJo R/C Speedway offered 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.
“We had 11 businesses participate in a ‘Poker Run’ and additional stores stayed open late,” Davis said. “That was a great day to bring attention to our downtown retailers.”
Cruise-in for a Cause began in 2019 to celebrate Yukon’s portion of Route 66 by creating a “vision of yesteryear”. The third Thursday each September is reserved as the official cruise date.
GIVE … AND THEY DID
With this being an open cruise, donations were not collected through an admission charge from the cruisers.
Instead, attendees were asked to give at donation stations during the event.
“The donation stations brought in over $1,140,” Davis noted. “Last year, the total was just under $200.”
Each “help cause” collected donations – both money and products – from their advocacy booths at S Fifth and Main.
Yukon Sharing had the most booth collections among the four causes, totaling $425.
The timing couldn’t have been better, Davis noted.
“Every dollar dropped in the bucket goes to support those with the greatest need in our community,” Yukon’s Main Street director explained. “Our cruise is at a perfect time of year to provide funds and products as we lead into the fall and holiday season.
“This is more important than ever after the challenging years that we’ve had, and the increased cost of food and other items that are needed.”
About 50 participants registered in advance for “Park and Show” spaces in the 400 block of Main Street; half of each registration fee went to their “cause of choice”.
For more information, stop by the Yukon Main Street office at 528 W Main, call (405) 350-5999 or visit yukon66mainstreet.com
