The Ararat Ruritan Club hosted its first cruise-in of the year last month in honor of local fire, rescue and police. Celebrating Ruritan National’s birthday, the local club provided a free lunch to the emergency personnel, cruisers, and attendees.
Cruise-in organizer Kevin Smith said 32 vehicles registered from all across the area, mostly from Mount Airy/Surry County, N.C. locales. He was pleased with the participation, considering other events in the area held on the same day.
Rudy Ruritan and Smith presented Sheriff Dan Smith with miniature Rudy Bears (teddy bears) that can help children who are suffering from traumatic events when the sheriff’s department services are needed.
All county fire departments and rescue squads were invited to
show off their emergency vehicles. Smith said only the Ararat Rescue Squad, which is housed across the street from the Ruritan Club building, and the Ararat Fire Department, whose headquarters are less than a mile away, were represented.
Plans are underway for the fall BBQ/Cruise-In, scheduled for Saturday, October 22.
Fundraisers, like it’s monthly bingo and virtual raffles, allow the club to host the community wide events and make sizable donations of school supplies, food and money to other local civic organizations & families who are experiencing unexpected difficult times.
In other community service projects, club members placed 75-100 flags on local veterans’ graves in honor of Memorial Day. The club also collected useful items for the Ronald McDonald House from the monthly bingo
players and made a monetary donation. This project helps to allow family members to have a home away from home when a loved one is in the hospital.
In August, the club will be presenting scholarships to area students who will be entering college this fall.
The Ararat Ruritan Club meets on the first Thursday of each month with a covered dish meal served at 7 p.m.
The Ararat Ruritan Club is one of four in the county. For more information on Ruritans, contact your local Ruritan club member; call Kevin Smith at (276) 229-6493, or email AraratRuritanClub@gmail.com.