Valley Cruisers volunteer time, donate money
Linda Sappington
The Mission Valley Cruisers donate $500 to the Boys and Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation and Lake County. Pictured from left are Michal Delgado, Boys and Girls Club board secretary; Richard Santorno, Valley Cruisers president; Hal Folts, Valley Cruisers member; Aric Cooksley, Boys and Girls Club director; John Moon, Valley Cruisers treasurer/secretary; Mike Lee, Valley Cruisers vice-president; and Sherlee Santorno, RSVP volunteer coordinator.
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
RONAN — The Mission Valley Cruisers and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program have a long-standing, symbiotic relationship with one goal in mind — community support.
Many of the car clubs’ members volunteer with RSVP by offering rides to seniors and veterans through the Lake County Council on Aging’s transportation service. Some Valley Cruisers help bag commodities. Often members provide private car shows at local assisted living centers during the summer months, offering a picnic, ice-cream social and rides in classic cars.
For years the Valley Cruisers organized a successful annual car show in Polson, “Cruisen by the Bay,” which is now run by the Anderson Broadcasting crew and renamed “Summerfest.”
Aging membership could no longer accommodate the growth and ongoing needs to develop the car show, according to Sherlee Santorno, RSVP volunteer coordinator. Yet a survey indicated the car show drew the largest attendance of all summer events in Polson.
“Many businesses expressed their gratitude as they counted on that weekend of revenue,” Santorno said.
In 2005 the club distributed car show profits totaling $8,000 to 15 different organizations, including CASA, DOVES, Lake County Youth Home and the Foster Grandparent program.
The Valley Cruisers continue to support local non-profits, adding up thousands of dollars donated through the years.
“Many just don’t know that a bunch of old car buffs have such a heart for the community, but here at RSVP we have known this for years,” Santorno said.
In 2014 and 2015, car club members opted to forego giving each other Christmas gifts and instead give away what they would have spent on presents. They brought 350 pounds of food plus cash to Ronan’s Bread Basket food bank, which was struggling in 2014.
In 2015 car club members donated $500 to the Charlo High School shop class, enabling students to continue restoring a 1970 El Camino. Valley Cruisers also donate their time and talents teaching the students a love of mechanics.
Most recently the group contributed $500 to the Boys and Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation and Lake County.
Michal Delgado serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club. She became a member of the Mission Valley Cruisers in 2003 and helped organize many of the car shows. She said the car club has always supported RSVP and the Boy and Girls Club, and thanked the club for the many years of giving to the Mission Valley.
“This group of men and women have always had this community in their planning,” Delgado said. “They always focused on opportunities that gave back to the community by giving organizations the space and promotion of their activities.”
Car club members are quick to help RSVP with any needs, such as blocking off streets for the Lake County Parade of Lights during Christmastime, Santorno said.
“We at RSVP know we can continue to count on them as needed,” Santorno said. “We often owe them a big ‘thank you.’”
RSVP and Mission Valley Cruisers are both currently recruiting members.
RSVP is a hub for senior volunteers. With the motto, “Lead with Experience,” RSVP currently has 187 volunteers assisting 44 Lake County non-profits. RSVP believes that that volunteering helps people live longer and promotes a positive outlook on life.
For more information about RSVP, call the Area VI Agency on Aging at 406-883-7284.
