The Kiwanis Club of Queen Creek is hosting its 14th Annual Christmas Car Show and Toy Drive this weekend to benefit local families in need through the Queen Creek Unified School District Family Resource Center.
"This show is not your typical car show, it's also a great way to give back to the community and we're trying to incorporate more kids' stuff," Kiwanis member and past president Jon Morris said. "It is a pleasure to assist in putting this on each year. Proceeds from the show will go to the youth training program for future firefighters and EMT personnel and other Kiwanis charities, some of which include giving toys to children during the holidays and providing educational needs to families through the family resource center, as well as providing future firefighters and EMT's through the Queen Creek Fire and Medical cadet youth training program."
Morris, who has been a Queen Creek Kiwanis since 2015, said the event started in "about 2018 when we were approached by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, who was our police provider at the time, to assist them in putting on this car show. So it started as a positive outreach effort. Then when the Queen Creek Police Department started this year, we looped them in to continue to integrate with Queen Creek Fire and Medical, who has been so supportive, as we continue with the Queen Creek Family Resource Center in providing toys for kids whose parents can't afford a Christmas.
"The resource center also provides educational services to both kids and adults and a lot of people don't know about them, so we're trying to bring awareness to what they do year-round. We just helped them put together food boxes for Thanksgiving and we do a back-to-school drive," Morris continued. "They're always trying to help local families who are trying to build themselves up and help them find jobs. Then, the cadet youth training program helps those who want to go into the police and fire fields, so we provide them with funds for that program. All proceeds from the car show goes to fund these programs."
Last year, Queen Creek Kiwanis collected over 1,000 toys and this year is proving to be even more successful, with two full truck beds of toys already delivered to them by a local car dealership and a motorcycle club.
“This annual car show and toy drive is a collaboration between the Kiwanis Club and the East Valley Firefighter Charities (that support local charity needs)," Queen Creek Fire and Medical Department Fire Chief Vance Gray said. "Our department looks forward to seeing a great turn out and collecting lots of toys that will make the holidays special and memorable for so many children in our community."
Bring those unwrapped toys for either boys or girls to this free event for spectators from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 10 at Desert Mountain Park, 22201 Hawes Road, in Queen Creek. Morris said there will once again be live music and vendors at the car show. Early registration closed Dec. 1, but you can still enter a vehicle for $20 the day of the show.
