Classic Cruisers donate to Sudbury charities

Classic Cruisers donate to Sudbury charities Members of Sudbury Classic Cruisers made their way through Sudbury on Friday dropping off cheques for $5,000.

In a convoy of classic cars Friday morning, members of Sudbury Classic Cruisers made their way through the city dropping off cheques for $5,000.

“All in all, the Sudbury Classic Cruisers is going to give approximately $35,000 to our local community and the only reason we do it is because we like old cars and we like to help people,” said club president Joe Gervais.

The first stop was the Blue Door Soup Kitchen.

“There is an enormous need to keep them fed,” said Bill Hickey of the Blue Door Soup Kitchen.

“Give them nourishing meals and have enough for the volume of people coming in.”

The next stop was Genevra House, where officials said the shelter is at capacity every day.

“We have 18 children in our shelter right now,” said Marlene Gorman, YWCA Genevra House executive director.

“And the costs associated with that – diapers, baby formula sometimes special needs … we had to purchase another crib because we have more babies than we had cribs.”

Then it was off to the Sudbury Food Bank, rolling in with another $5,000.

“We rely only on community,” said Dan Xilon, the food bank’s executive director.

“The Sudbury Food Bank receives no government funding of any kind ... I have said it before and I will say it again: the people of Sudbury have decided no one is going to go hungry on their watch.”

Last stop was the Maison McCulloch Hospice.

“This one is twofold,” said Julie Aube, Maison McCulloch Hospice executive director.

“We know we need operating dollars, but when the Classic Cruisers come here, like I was just telling the group, it is such a refreshing distraction for our staff for our residents. It puts a lot of smiles on a lot of faces.”

The club also made a $10,000 donation to Independent Living Sudbury Manitoulin.

Members of Sudbury Classic Cruisers said in the past 30 years, the club has raised more than $350,000 for local charities.