TISDALE鈥� Doghide River Rods and Relics will be putting on a Tisdale cruise, where they will be collecting non-perishable food items for the local Salvation Army food bank.
The cruise will take place on May 7 at 7 p.m.
鈥淲e started this little car club about a year or so ago, in May,鈥� said Darrell Davis, a founding member. 鈥淚t was I who instigated it because I know there are a lot of old cars in this town nobody sees a whole bunch.鈥�
Originally the club met once a week, but Davis said with the pandemic this wasn鈥檛 an option鈥� and everyone was still 鈥渋tching鈥� to get their cars out.
鈥淚鈥檝e seen quite a few posts on Facebook where other car clubs have done the same thing as a salute to essential workers or healthcare workers, or something like that. Somebody else in the club suggested maybe we could do a food drive at the same time.鈥�
Anyone who wishes to drive in the cruise is instructed to meet on Boundary Road at 6:30 p.m. All drivers are instructed to stay in their car and avoid in-person socialization.
The route will start from there, and travel past the hospital. Next the cars will turn down Main Street, and drive past MacKay Tower. The parade will turn right at Red Apple, and drive past Cedar Villa, before returning to Main Street.
The cruise will then travel on 99th Avenue, by the Subway, RECplex and school area鈥� before ending with a pass through the Buy-Low Foods and Beeland Co-op parking lots.
The club has been in communication with both grocery stores to collect non-perishable food items. Items purchased at the stores can be dropped in a collection bin located inside. On May 8, the club will be collecting all donations and dropping them off at the foodbank.
鈥淥ur goal was really just to raise awareness that those bins are there and it鈥檚 a time of need.鈥�
Due to social distancing, Davis said that at this time, the club cannot accept any donations brought in from outside the stores.
鈥淣othing comes from outside the stores at this time, obviously because of the virus. We want to keep everybody safe.鈥�
Davis said the pass through the grocery store parking lots are to give a symbolic salute to essential workers.
鈥淭he message I would like to get out there is how much we鈥� appreciate every essential worker in the community that鈥檚 stood proud and strong through this whole thing,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淥bviously it鈥檚 been tough on a lot of people鈥� if we can raise some awareness of the food bank at the same time, that was kind of our goal for this.鈥�
Davis, is himself, an essential worker, as the produce manager at Beeland Co-op.
鈥淚t鈥檚 presented its own challenges, obviously鈥� and because it鈥檚 an essential service we have to make sure everybody鈥檚 needs are met, and make sure they鈥檙e following the safety precautions and protocols. The challenges are no different for grocery then it would be for anywhere else.鈥�
All spectators of the parade on May 7 are encouraged to follow proper social distance protocols.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 see a problem with that. If you want to watch and you鈥檙e on Main Street, just watch from your window. Obviously we鈥檙e going to be following social distancing, so hopefully everyone else does as well.鈥�
