The Byrnes Mill Police Department’s inaugural car show brought in $3,000 for the Special Olympics of Missouri. The show was held Saturday at Spring Hills Presbyterian Church in Byrnes Mill.
With those proceeds the department has raised $9,000 for the Special Olympics this year, and it hopes to raise at least $1,000 more, Byrnes Mill Police Officer Aimee Stockard said.
“We’re getting closer to our year goal,” she said. “We still have half a year to go.”
Stockard said about 200 people attended the car show.
“It was a hot day, but everyone came out,” she said.
Byrnes Mill Police Officer Cody Umfress said 37 cars entered the show.
Stockard said Robert Lynch won the Athlete’s Choice Award for his yellow 2001 Corvette. Three Special Olympics athletes, Jonathan, Becca and Thomas, named Lynch the winner.
Rick and Denise Schwepe’s car, a teal and white 1955 Belair, won best in show, which was awarded to the car with the most votes, Stockard said.
“We had a pretty wide range of vehicles,” she said. “We had Corvettes, Cudas, a Firebird, some trucks, some Jeeps,” she said.
The High Ridge Fire Protection District and the North Jefferson County Ambulance District also had vehicles at the event.
Stockard said her sister, Lilly Stockard, who is Miss Heartland Princess of America Superstar, attended the car show.
Umfress said the Open Door Animal Sanctuary in House Springs brought two puppies available for adoption to the car show, and one was adopted by one of the Special Olympics athletes.
Stockard said 20 donated baskets were raffled off at the car show.
Umfress said he hopes to have the show again next year.
“Seeing the cars was cool, seeing all the people coming out and supporting us was awesome, but to see the smiles on the athletes to know that we’re there supporting them, that was my favorite part,” Umfress said.
Stockard said the Police Department already had raised $5,500 for Special Olympics by taking part in the organization’s annual Polar Plunge and Law Enforcement Torch Run, both held earlier this year.