Cars and kids mix

carclubcheck072: There are certain ironies in life that just seem to make sense, such as the Old Friends of Bakersfield Car Club and the MOVE program at the Blair Learning Center in Bakersfield. What could these two possibly have in common? The reasons will be explained in a moment, but suffice it to say, the car club donated $19,500 to MOVE in a brief ceremony on Oct. 11.

Now to the particulars. The car club has 25 members who are very proud of driving their beautifully-restored machines, even to the point that they frequently like to display what they have done by holding local car shows. Approximately 100 MOVE-trained students with severe disabilities enrolled at both Blair and the Claude W. Richardson Child Development Center, have a very difficult time moving.

Here is the connection. Five years ago, Old Friends learned about MOVE through a member who worked at the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office. She suggested the children could really be helped by some financial aid to the program. The club held a car show, raised $4,000 and donated it all to MOVE.

Many years ago, children with severe disabilities were relegated to a life of bean bags and wheelchairs. Then, a KCSOS special education teacher name Linda Bidabe devised a curriculum that provided hope, teaching children how to use specially adapted equipment to sit, stand and walk independently. It became so successful that nonprofit MOVE International was the result. It became part of the curriculum used by KCSOS special education teachers. Today, MOVE helps children and adults with severe disabilities throughout the United States and around the world.

"We were touched by what we saw," said Old Friends President Gil Edmondson.

"There was no doubt we were going to continue to support this great effort. And it tells you something about how hard the club members work to make this happen. When we held that car show on October 6 at Olive Knolls Church of the Nazarene, 142 cars entered. That is huge for a one-day car show. We worked the crowd, selling opportunity drawing tickets. If a person wanted to buy $10 worth, we convinced them they should buy $20 instead. As a result, we were able to raise $19,500 for these deserving children and every penny goes to MOVE. When you consider the first car show raised $4,000, we have come a long way. I think we will also be donating another $500 before the week is over."

How special is this charity drive to the Old Friends of Bakersfield Car Club? Every one of them, all 25, showed up to present the check to MOVE on Oct. 11, meet the children and see the good that is being done.

MOVE International Executive Director David Schreuder, who received the check on behalf of the organization, told club members, "Because of your generous donation, you have given even more children the opportunity to sit, stand and walk. And how appropriate it is that this check is presented at Blair, the birthplace of the MOVE program."

Those wishing to learn more about MOVE can check its Web site, http://www.move-international.org/. If you would like more information about the Old Friends of Bakersfield Car Club, call Edmondson at (661) 703-4071.


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