MOVE-ing donation by car club

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Old Friends of Bakersfield Car Club President Gil Edmondson (top row center) and members of the club happily presented a check for $6,600 on June 4 to (top row from second left) Kern County Superintendent of Schools Larry E. Reider, MOVE Founder Linda Bidabe and MOVE International Executive Director David Schreuder.

It is a pretty moving experience when a highly mobile car club can show off both its exquisite talents for restoring cars and its humanity for children who want to be more mobile. During the past six years, the Old Friends of Bakersfield Car Club has donated thousands of dollars to MOVE (Mobility Opportunities Via Education) International, a worldwide program giving hope to children that they might be able to sit, stand, walk and maybe drive a car of their own some day. The latest installment came on June 4, when Old Friends President Gil Edmondson presented a $6,600 check from the car club to MOVE International Executive Director David Schreuder and Kern County Superintendent of Schools Larry E. Reider. That brought the total donated by Old Friends to MOVE in the 2007-08 school year to $26,600.

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. 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 needs teacher named 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 needs 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 hold car shows we work the crowd, selling opportunity drawing tickets. If a person wants to buy $10 worth, we convince them to buy $20 instead. As a result, we are able to raise more money 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."

A smiling Schreuder said, "The commitment of this car club to MOVE’s program and mission cannot be described in words alone. You have to go out to the car shows and see how much love and hard work they put into each one. Remember, they are spending their own money for gasoline and preparation just to make sure they can help those that are less mobile. What they do is amazing, and we are so appreciative."

The next Old Friends of Bakersfield Car Club "Fabulous 50s Fun Car Show" will be held on Oct. 4 at Olive Knolls Church of the Nazarene, 6201 Fruitvale Ave., in Bakersfield. 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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