ASHEBORO, N.C. — Veterans day is this weekend and Wayne Thomas Chevrolet have already started celebrating with their 10th annual
Honoring Our Veterans Cruisin' event held on September 16.
But it was more than just a Cruisin In, it was a time to raise money for veterans in need of things like food, shelter, or even to help pay a light bill. The event raised a record total of $25,528 for the Randolph County Veterans Council. So far this year, the Randolph County Veterans Council has raised over 182 thousand dollars to veterans in need.
"We help in any manner that we can. We have an amount that we pay certain amount that we allot that way the monies go further and at this time we've probably helped over 300 veterans in Randolph since the car show has been going on," Bill Beeson, treasurer of the Randolph County Veterans Council, said.
The council says a major concern in the Randolph County veteran community is homelessness.
According to National Data General, about 687 North Carolina veterans are homeless.
Organizations like the Randolph County Veterans Council are working to get veterans in need some help but they too are in need of volunteers.
"The majority of our members are in their seventies and eighties. Out of about sixty active members, less than 15 are actually in Guilford County. We'd like to ask our brothers and sisters in Guilford County to step up and help make sure that their fallen brother and sisters are honored appropriately and we need a little bit of help doing that," Rob Wilkins, commander for the Randolph County Veterans Council, said.
If you know a veteran in need to have them contact their local Veterans service office which will get them connected to get help.
Plans for the 11th annual honoring our veterans cruise in have begun. The Honoring Our Veterans event will take place right at Wayne Thomas Chevrolet in Asheboro on September 14, 2024.