(Source: John Cannon The Daily Independent, Ashland, Ky. (MCT) — What has proven to be a popular and successful fundraiser for Greenup County Habitat for Humanity will continue Friday when the classic cars begin to arrive at the Flatwoods McDonald’s for Habitat’s third car show of 2012.
When the Greenup Habitat chapter was seeking a fundraiser, Bud Matheny of Russell suggested sponsoring a car show. Matheny used his 27 years of participating in cruise-ins throughout the region to provide the experience, expertise and connections Habitat needed to launch a successful car show.
Now in its second year, the Flatwoods show — which is on the second Friday of each month during the spring, summer and autumn months — now is the third largest show in the Tri-State, surpassed by only the First Friday show in downtown Ashland and a monthly show in Wheelersburg that has been going on for many years, Matheny said.
“Last August, we had 130 cars,” Matheny said. “That’s the biggest show we have had to date.”
Just how many cars will be entered in Friday’s show will not be known until the event occurs. Scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m., there is a $5 entry fee; preregistration isn’t necessary.
“We really don’t know how many cars we will have until they show up,” Matheny said. A number of factors, including the weather and competing shows in the region, can impact participation, he said.
“We car owners tend to be bit of a fickle bunch,” Matheny said. “We love our cars and don’t want to do anything that could damage them. If there is a threat of rain or other bad weather, some just won’t show up.”
Both the Flatwoods McDonald’s on Argillite Road and the neighboring Pennington’s Food Fair provide space for the show. Corporate sponsor John Clark Oil Co. also donates $25 gift cards given to show entrants through a drawing. The gift cards have helped spur participation in the show, Matheny said.
Habitat is an international organization that uses volunteer labor to build and restore homes sold to the working poor through no-interest loans. Work on the homes is done by volunteers. Qualified recipients of the loans are also required to contribute many hours of “sweat equity” by working with volunteers on their home projects.
Because the money from loan payments goes toward the construction of other homes, Matheny said a donation for Habitat is perpetual. “This is not just money that is spent one time, but it is used over and over again through the money generated from payments on the interest-free loans,” Matheny said. “Not many organizations can say that.”
Since its creation a few years ago, the Greenup Habitat chapter has completed the construction of one home and the restoration of two others, Matheny said.
While he now volunteers more with the McConnell House in Wurtland than with Greenup Habitat, Matheny continues to be an avid supporter of the car shows both as a volunteer and participant.
“This is my baby and it remains near and dear to me,” he said. “I want to see it continue to grow and prosper.”
JOHN?CANNON?can be reached at jcannon@dailyindependent.com and at (606) 325-2649.
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©2012 The Daily Independent (Ashland, Ky.)
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Source: John Cannon The Daily Independent, Ashland, Ky. (MCT)
