COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The 31st Annual Coldwater Swap Meet and Car Show saw a drop in cars and spectators during this years show due the bad weather conditions over Mother’s Day weekend but for the eighth straight year organizers have donated money back to many non-profit agencies in the area.
A total of 14 local organizations will split $15,000 in donations from this year’s show which was half of the amount which was donated last year. The groups received their checks from the Swap Meet and Car Show committee Thursday night outside of Sanford Hall at the Branch County Fairgrounds on what was ironically an absolutely perfect summer night.
The bad weather this year led to only about 400 cars showing up for the event which was down about 1,000 from last year.
Event Chair Dale Parshall said Thursday the spectator count was only down by about a half from 2017 thanks to the swap meet. While some classic car owners left their vehicles home, they still attended the swap meet to get car parts.
Since the Swap Meet and Car Show was reorganized into a non-profit organization in 2010, it has given out over $168,000 to other non-profit groups in Branch County.
This year’s recipients were once again the Branch County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Branch Area Food Pantry, Branch County Fairgrounds, Branch Area Careers Center, Family Promise of Branch County, First Presbyterian Health Clinic, Sexual Assault Services of Branch County, Jacobs Well Ministries, Coach Eby Youth and Family Center, Branch County Humane Society, Tommy’s House, the Children’s Museum, Beginnings Care for Life Center and the Child Abuse Prevention Awareness (CAPA) Council.
