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Club Spotlight
Divine Legacy
The Roamin Angels Celebrate 50 Years of Good Deeds
Santa Claus, played by the club's vice president Ron Cherry, stands in front of his sleigh-for-the-day: a 1948 Van Pelt fire engine. Parked behind the "sleigh" is a 1940 Ford pickup. In the background are the Salvation Army canteen truck and the Reibes Auto Parts BBQ station that serves up food for toy donors.
What's in a name? With the Roamin Angels Car Club of Grass Valley, California, the name says it all. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the original club. When the club was first organized in 1962, a group of high school hot rodders got together to cruise their cars. However, they also decided to stop and help
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| Past president Ray Yedding gladly accepts a box of toys from a local donor. |
local motorists whose vehicles had broken down. Club members handed out cards that said, "You've been helped by a Roamin Angel."
The annual Roamin Angel Toy Drive was established 23 years ago with the same charitable spirit in mind. At the last event, the club adopted 60 families using $6,000 of its own funds to augment the toys with clothes, blankets and household needs. This donation was raised at the annual Roamin Angels "Cruisin' the Pines" Car Show at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, held the second weekend of September each year.
Each year, the Toy Drive is publicized as part of a Christmas celebration. Refreshments were provided by Reibe's Auto Parts of Grass Valley and the Salvation Army. A local band played live seasonal tunes for the crowd. Santa Claus even arrived in an antique fire truck! Club members also work with the local Salvation Army throughout the holiday season to help those in need.
During the year, the Roamin Angels participate in community service activities, make donations to local groups and support the Association of California Car Clubs (ACCC). The original spirit of this car club is alive and well after 50 years.