For the third consecutive year, the Back Alley Cruisers club has donated to The Sharing Place Food Centre.
This year, the donation consisted of 168 pounds of food and a cheque for $1,600.
“For us, it’s an honour to help them out in any way we can. You just wish you could do more because it’s so needed and they do such a great job,” said Stuart Salt, a member of the Back Alley Cruisers.
Every Friday night from May to the end of September, the Back Alley Cruisers meet at the West Ridge Plaza. Salt recounted how Orillia did not have an active car club for five or six years. In 2021, he and a number of locals formed the club and selected among themselves what charity to support as a group.
They chose The Sharing Place because “coming out of COVID, we realized there was a huge need for it ... because we all know the need in this town,” said Salt.
Each Friday during the summer, the Cruisers set up dozens of vehicles to show off, complete with a sound system, an MC and a donation bucket.
For Chris Peacock, executive director of The Sharing Place, the consistency of annual donations is vital.
“It’s huge to get the continued support,” he said. “Orillia is a special place. We tend to rally around each other, and the Back Alley Cruisers are an example of that, where we come together as a team to support individuals who may not be as fortunate as us.”
With Thanksgiving around the corner and stores filling up with items to remind people of holiday preparations, The Sharing Place becomes a busier place, Peacock noted.
“Over 30 per cent of our community is struggling with household food insecurity, so the holidays and reasons to celebrate can be very challenging if you don’t have the means to celebrate,” he said.
Donations like the one from the Back Alley Cruisers, especially at this time of the year, are important for any non-profit organization, Peacock added. The cash, in particular, allows organizations to plan ahead and fund their core operations.
It’s also fun to join the Cruisers on Friday evenings, he said with a smile.
“If I’m in that neck of the woods, my kids make sure I pull over,” he said Peacock, noting spending time with community-driven and passionate people to share stories and view an array of eclectic vehicles is worth the stop.
As a way to thank the members who attend each week and those who travel from Gravenhurst, Wasaga Beach, Barrie, Innisfil and other areas, the Back Alley Cruisers organized door prizes. Salt explained they sought support from roughly 100 Orillia businesses this year and received plenty — “everything from car parts to food to the water pick (from a dentist’s office),” he said of the 46 businesses that contributed prizes to the cause.
Peacock said the financial donation “will help purchase healthy food for our member base … It’s wonderful to see the support from them.”
Salt said the car enthusiasts are happy to help.
“It’s great working with them. Chris and his crew are just great people,” he said.
