By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
It may be July amid the summer heat, but the Yukon Police Department is already thinking about Christmas.
The YPD’s annual Christmas with a Cop charity project is one of two nonprofits that will benefit from Yukon Main Street’s fifth annual “Cruise-in for a Cause.”
“Cruise-in for a Cause is coming up in September,” Yukon Main Street Board President Kay Casper announced at a recent Yukon Community Coffee. “As you know, it’s a car show which is absolutely fabulous and a whole lot of fun.
“We also sponsor two charities. This year, I’m honored to present Christmas with a Cop and Savannah Station. We’re so pleased to be able to help these two causes and hope that you will support them. When we have the cruise, come on out and you can make specific donations there also.”
Yukon 66 Main Street hosted the June 30th Yukon Community Coffee outside its office at 528 W Main.
An open car cruise, Cruise-in For a Cause will feature a parade of vehicles from 5-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21 along Route 66 in downtown Yukon.
This will be the first year that funds raised during the event will help Yukon’s Christmas with a Cop.
This YPD effort makes Christmas brighter for deserving Yukon children who are paired with Yukon police officers to shop for presents at the Yukon Walmart Supercenter.
The officers really enjoy participating in this annual yuletide program, which helped 28 local youth in December 2022.
“Yukon Main Street selected us as one of their causes, and that’s something we’re excited about,” Yukon Police Chief John Corn said. “At least half of the entry fees they collect from the participants in Cruise-in for a Cause will be shared with us. It’s really going to help us help these kids.
“Our Christmas in the Cop program is funded entirely by donations. In late September, we’ll get our donation boxes out to anyone that would like one.”
After the recent Yukon Community Coffee announcement, two Yukon banks stepped up to serve as Christmas with the Cop donation box sites. Cash contributions will again be accepted this fall at Yukon convenience stores like 7-Eleven and Casey’s.
Local civic groups like Rotary and Lions, and the Citizens Police Academy Alumni, get behind Christmas with a Cop as well. Walmart is the corporate sponsor and McDonald’s provides breakfast.
“We get tremendous community support,” Chief Corn added.
Volunteers help wrap presents at the Yukon police station after the annual Saturday Christmas shopping excursion.
Savannah Station, a therapeutic horseback riding program, will be the other beneficiary of the 2023 Yukon Cruise-in for a Cause. This will be their second straight year participating.
“We narrowed it down to two causes this year so we could help them out a lot better and showcase them more,” said Cruise coordinator Judy Austin, Yukon Main Street’s past board president.
In past years, four help causes were selected to benefit.
ALL VEHICLES WELCOME
Yukon’s Cruise-In for a Cause welcomes all types of vehicles – from classics and muscle cars to vintage and newer-models.
“It’s open to everybody – cars, trucks, motorcycles – anything unique,” Austin explained. “If people want to have a reserve parking spot on Main Street, they need to register.”
The Yukon Cruise Team hopes to include more car and motorcycle clubs at this September’s big event.
Attendees of the Main Street cruise will be asked to give to YPD Christmas With a Cop and Savannah Station TRC at their advocacy booths and at donation stations downtown.
A portion of Park & Show registration fees also will benefit the two non-profits.
While they’re not riding in their own vehicles, Cruise-In for a Cause attendees will stroll through the Park & Show area (400 block of W Main), visit cause and sponsor booths, check out fun activities along the way, and enjoy a constant parade of cool rides.
The Cruise Team meets the third Thursday of each month until the event. Volunteers are encouraged to help plan and present the fifth annual Route 66 cruise.
For more information about supporting or participating in the 2023 Cruise-In for a Cause, call (405) 350-5999 or visit https://www.yukon66mainstreet.com/
