It has been a little over a month since Walmart Supercenter in Seymour kicked off its 2023 fundraising campaign for Riley Hospital for Children.
Since then, the store already has raised more than $3,000.
This year, it has a goal to raise $25,000 and achieve a gold banner.
Besides having a fundraising bucket in the store, Walmart employees are pulling out all of the stops to raise as much money as they can.
Sunday afternoon provided clear skies and warm temperatures as decked-out Jeeps of all colors and sizes filled the parking lot of the store at 1600 E. Tipton St. on the city’s east side for Flexin’ for Riley.
The Black Sheep Jeep Club of Kentuckiana traveled there to help support this small town in raising funds for Riley. The club includes about 2,400 members all over Kentucky and Indiana.
Mike Wells of Brandenburg, Kentucky, drove two hours to Seymour to support the cause.
“We help out different charities and try to help out anywhere we can,” he said.
The club in partnership with the Seymour Walmart hosted a Jeep flexing competition to help raise money.
The act of flexing involves having one of the front or rear off-road wheels and tires up on an obstacle while the wheel on the opposite side of the axle is on the ground.
This isn’t the only type of event the club enjoys.
“We do rides, off-road rides, parades and anything where we can go out have fun and support a local community,” Wells said.
The club started around 2021 for Jeep enthusiasts to meet, connect and enjoy aspects of the Jeep life. Its mission is to provide supportive, positive and all-inclusive community for Jeep owners while partnering with and helping bring attention to local businesses and charities.
Wells said this is his third time coming to Seymour to help Walmart employees raise money for charity through this Jeep flexing competition.
“We just want people to know that we are here to help. There is always somewhere to turn and people willing to help,” he said.
“It’s just all about giving back,” said Tony Cook of Louisville, Kentucky. “We don’t expect nothing in return, and at the end of the day, there is always someone that needs help. If we can all come together and pitch in, it makes their day better.”
The club gave away trophies for best flex from the flex ramp, show and shine for the shiniest Jeep and sound-off.
“Everything we collect here today goes back to Riley,” Wells said.
Besides the flexing competition, the community was able to enjoy music, cotton candy, ducking Jeeps and food from Kona Ice and Sati Babi. Twenty percent of sales from Kona Ice went toward Riley.
Vet to Vet from North Vernon also was set up to help raise money and inform the community on the organization that helps aid veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and their families build better lives.
All funds raised from this event will go to support Riley.