COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – $22,500 in proceeds from last month’s annual Coldwater Swap Meet and Car Show was presented yesterday to a dozen non-profit agencies and groups that serve the needs of Branch County. It’s the fifth year that local charities have benefited by receiving the entire proceeds from the event that’s been staged for nearly 3 decades at the Branch County Fairgrounds where representatives of the worthy causes met Wednesday to receive their donations.
Dale Parshall, a member of the car show committee, told the gathering that the forecast of threatening weather for this year’s event kept the car count down by about 500 cars. However, the number of spectators was within ten percent of the figure from 2013 and Parshall called the bottom line results fantastic considering the predictions for rain, which basically stayed clear of the area. This year’s check total going to the charitable agencies is double the amount for when the show donations first started in 2011 and the five year figure has reached $93,000.
As Parshall distributed the proceeds, he expressed gratitude to the all of the agencies for what they do for the greater good of the community and also thanked the 160 volunteers who turn out to make the car show possible. The recipients this year are the Branch Area Food Pantry, the Family Promise of Branch County, the First Presbyterian Health Clinic, Sexual Assault Services of Branch County, Jacobs Well Ministries, the Coach Eby Youth and Family Center, Branch County Humane Society, United Commercial Travelers Insurance, the Child Abuse Awareness Council, the Branch Area Careers Center, the Branch County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the Branch County Fair Grounds.
