Car show able to fill group’s sleigh with toys for kids of vets
On Christmas Day, there will be a lot of happy faces, thanks to the generosity of Austin’s car community. Organizers of the recent Toy Drive Cruise-In said attendance an d giving were higher than expected for the children of the area’s disabled veterans.
The car show was held at Freddy’s Steakburgers in Pflugerville. The cost to participate was a donated toy an d a cheerful spirit. The event was a partnership between Stephanie Myers, a Round Rock-base d insurance agent who coordinates car shows in the Central Texas area, and the group Purple Santa.
“We had over 100 cars show, and we collected two truckloads of toys for Purple Santa,” Myers said after the event. “I am going down to Fort Hood this Saturday (Dec. 12 ) to help deliver the toys to children. I know I will be blessed just getting to see the children receive their gifts.”
Myers said she was also very grateful for a number of people who simply showed up long enough to drop off a gift.
Purple Santa donates toys to the ch ildren of disabled veterans. The small charitable group’s organizers said they try to keep it local, taking care of the children of veterans in the Central Texas area.
Central Texas is a large exit point for service members leaving the military at the comple ti on of their term. Between 600 and 800 veterans leave the milita ry each month from Fort Hood alone. For many, this transition into civilian life comes with the difficulty of rehabilitation from injuries received as a result of the dangers of serving in a hostile environment.
Myers is most wellknown for hosting two larger classic-car shows that feature vintage aircraft as well , with upcoming shows in February and April in Georgetown and San Marcos.