Having a longtime passion for cars and trucks, Matt Vance has always wanted to do a show or cruise-in in Seymour to bring the car community together.
One night while working on a friend’s truck, he threw around the idea of having a cruise.
Then he and Tara Lowe tried to come up with a good cause to put with the event.
On a Wednesday night, they were eating at a restaurant on the far east side of Seymour when they looked across Tipton Street and found their cause.
In a parking lot between Sunshine Cafe and Taco Bell, a tent was set up with volunteers serving food to homeless and less-fortunate people.
“We did not know how to help or where to begin, but we knew we needed to help,” Lowe said.
They talked to a volunteer from Double Down Outreach and learned about the organization’s work. Since April 2018, volunteers have served meals every Wednesday night. While there, people also receive toiletries and other basic needs and information about local resources that will help them get a job, overcome addiction or improve their situation in other ways.
Volunteers also help with jail ministry, educate people in the community and serve in other ways.
Double Down Outreach falls under the umbrella of Waymaker Ministries, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
“My biggest hope for Double Down Outreach was getting the word out about this wonderful cause and the wonderful people that volunteer for them because up until that very point, I didn’t know they even existed,” Lowe said. “I wanted people who were in need to know that there is somewhere in our community to go if they needed help.”
Vance and Lowe have organized the inaugural Custom Cause Cruise, which is set for noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. Registration is from 10 a.m. to noon in the Seymour High School parking lot. The cost is $20 per vehicle.
The event will be a poker run that’s about 90 miles round trip and will last nearly three hours. The best hand will win a package donated by Popsey’s Electric Tattooing Co.
“Our poker run is a five-card stud,” Lowe said. “We have five stops along the cruise. The poker scoresheet is turned in by each individual, and the best hand wins. The first card that each individual will draw will be at registration at the Seymour High School. The second, third and fourth card will be drawn during the cruise at selected stopping points. The final card will be drawn at our final destination spot at Brooklyn Pizza.”
Also, 50/50 raffle tickets will be available for purchase at registration. The winner will be announced at Harmony Park following the cruise, and you must be present to win.
All proceeds will be given to Double Down Outreach.
After the cruise, food and drinks will be available for purchase from The Brooklyn Pizza Co. and The Seymour Brewing Co.
Lowe said over the past year, she and Vance have been drawn to helping those in need through their involvement with Twisted Koncepts, an Indianapolis-based car club.
They wanted to do their own benefit event locally and came up with Custom Cause Cruise.
Word spread, and local businesses jumped on board and offered to help.
Vance then said he would be thrilled if 20 vehicles participate.
“With all of our car friends and family, we have surpassed that number,” Lowe said. “We are still unsure on how many vehicles are coming to the cruise, but we do anticipate a big turnout.”
In terms of a fundraising goal, she said they haven’t set one because in their eyes, every bit helps.
“We both felt that Double Down Outreach was a perfect fit to donate money to, knowing that it would be put directly back into the community to help the less fortunate,” Lowe said. “This is our way to give back to our own community.”
They encourage anyone to participate in the cruise.
“It is not just for our car community. We have opened this event up to anyone that wants to help raise money for this cause by doing the cruise,” Lowe said. “It gives everyone a chance to get their cars out and cruise around with people we don’t normally get to cruise with. It’s also a great way to support the local businesses.”
If you go
What: Custom Cause Cruise
When: Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday; registration from 10 a.m. to noon in the Seymour High School parking lot
Where: The poker run will be about 90 miles round trip and last nearly three hours; after the event, food and drinks will be available for purchase from The Brooklyn Pizza Co. and The Seymour Brewing Co.
Cost: $20 per vehicle; 50/50 raffle tickets will be available for purchase at registration
Prize: The best hand will win a package donated by Popsey’s Electric Tattooing Co.
Proceeds: Double Down Outreach
Information: Find the Custom Cause Cruise event page on Facebook; call 877-325-3696 or visit facebook.com/doubledownoutreach