A local classic car club disbands after more than 30 years of public service – Lancaster Eagle Gazette

Dr. Edwin Payne, the Fairfield Center for disAbilities and Cerebral Palsy, left, poses with Steven Schaeffer and Lowell Bixler as the men present Dr. Payne a check. The men are members of the River Valley Rods and Customs Club, which had to disband this year after 32 years of fundraising for local non-profit organizations.(Photo: Submitted)

LANCASTER - After more than 30 years of providing assistance to local non-profit organizations and families in need, a local car club has made the difficult decision to disband.

The River Valley Rods and Customs Club, based in Lancaster, was founded in 1988, with the purpose of raising money for causes in the area, while also allowing its members to show off classic vehicles. While they were drawn together by their love of cars, the group focused on helping those in need.

However, as the coronavirus pandemic cancelled many other headline events, it became clear the club wouldn't be able to hold its events as usual, which meant raising funds would be a struggle this year.

As a final act of generosity, the group gave the balance of its funds to two local organizations, the FAIRHOPEHospice and Palliative Care, Inc. and the Fairfield Center for disAbilities and Cerebral Palsy.

"When it comes to the club, I have no regrets.I'm really proud of all the people we were able to help throughout the years and how much work my guys did to help the community," Lowell Bixler, club president, said. "We were a really good organization that did a lot of good things, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end."

"We were glad to be able to help the folks and organizations that we did. Being able to help those folks for all of those years really felt great."

Club Treasurer Steven Schaeffer explained holding cruise-ins like a normal year would have been taxing, with the additional precautions public events need to observe. He added the club needed to take the health and safety of the public and the club members in mind.

"We would hold more than 10 shows a year. Around the start of the pandemic, when it became more obvious this wasn't just the flu, we realized it would not be practical to hold any kind of cruise-in. It'd be too dangerous for the public and for our members," Schaeffer said. "It's very bittersweet that the club is coming to an end, but we have to be practical. With the virus looking like it may run into next year, we have to look ahead."

He recounted the projects the customs clubs had contributed to over the years, like fundraising for local nonprofits to giving money to families in need around the holidays, as well as helping with events like the Earth Angels Foundation's cruise-in.

"What struck me about those gifts to families, we'd have a lot of them ready to donate to us the next year, so we could help someone else like we'd helped them. It was amazing," Schaeffer said. "It was very fulfilling to be able to help people here. It's shocking to see how many families might fall through the cracks, but we've gotten a lot of satisfaction for the help we've been able to provide throughout the years."

For Dr. Edwin Payne, the executive director at FCdCP, River Valley Rods and Customs enabled his organization to help people with mobility needs. He said they'll be sorely missed.

"In the beginning, we could apply for a block grant to build ramps for folks that needed them, but it'd only go towards the people that lived inside Lancaster. There were more people in the county that needed that help, and the money the club donated to us was the money that got those ramps built," Payne said. "They're a blessing to people who get these ramps built. Many times, once the ramps are built, the people receiving them say they aren't prisoners in their homes anymore."

"In 2000, there was no other way to get those ramps built. The money the customs club provided was liberating for those people, they were a blessing to our community."

As a classic car enthusiast, Payne added he enjoyed going to the club's cruise-ins to award the FCdCP's "pick."

"I went every year, I loved to give out a trophy. I'm surprised to hear they're disbanding, but I was happy to have their help while we did," he said.

Denise Bauer, the president and chief executive officer of FAIRHOPE Hospice and Palliative Care, said her organization will definitely miss the car club.

"My family loved going to their car shows, even before they merged with the Amanda car show. We're definitely going to miss having them around," she said. "They were really a fantastic group. They worked tirelessly to help out over the years."

"We really, really appreciate all the help they gave and the good they did."

For Bixler, the opportunity to help the Lancaster area was immense, made possible by the local support. While it may be the end of the club as a fundraising group, Bixler said they're like a family, and will still stick close together.

"I wantto thank the community for all the support we've gotten over the years, not just here in Lancaster, but all over. We worked with a lot of local organizations over the years, and all the money we raised went to help those in need," he said. "I couldn't be more proud of the guys, and the work we've done. I have no regrets whatsoever."

blawlis@gannett.com

740-681-4342

@BarrettLawlis

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A local classic car club disbands after more than 30 years of public service - Lancaster Eagle Gazette