Car show benefits The Salvation Army’s ‘Kicks 4 Kids’ in Hendersonville, N.C.

By: Major Frank Duracher

Students returning to in-person classroom instruction this Fall will have new shoes, thanks to the Keith Capps Memorial Car Show —an annual fundraiser sponsored by the Sons Of The Savior Motorcycle Ministry (SS/MM) and The Salvation Army in Hendersonville, N.C.

"Kicks 4 Kids" is a ministry of The Salvation Army, set to provide footwear for deserving children in Henderson, Transylvania, and Pitt Counties.

This is the second year for the car show, drawing owners and admirers of restored and vintage cars, trucks, and bikes. The event, held on the last Saturday of July, also features food venders, door prizes, and a playground for kids.

"This event allows parents to register their school-aged children K-12 for a new pair of shoes for the 2021-22 school year," explains Roy Snelson, SS/MM founder and a soldier of The Salvation Army’s Hendersonville Corps. "All the parent or guardian needs to do is call our (corps) office to set an appointment. Information is gathered about each child, including shoe size, then we set a pick-up date for the parent to get their child's shoes."

Capps was a longtime staple in the car show community in Hendersonville, Snelson says. He owned several Volkswagens, but his two favorites were his white Beetle convertible and a Daytona Red '55 Beetle Pickup (one of only three built). Both vehicles were displayed with Capps’ widow in attendance.

Several members of Capps’ family were present for the 2021 Car Show, including his widow, Annette, and stepdaughter, Chelsea Parker.

"This means a lot to our family to have this event held in my stepdad's honor," Chelsea said. "He was a great man and he loved the Army; and his favorite thing to do each Christmas was to ring bells on the Red Kettles."

In fact, this past Christmas, Keith's family continued the yearly tradition.

"We are excited to be able to host the second annual Keith Capps Memorial Car Show," says Captain Phillip Stokes, corps officer in Hendersonville. "We are even more excited to partner with the Sons Of The Savior Motorcycle Ministry to help raise more money for our Kicks 4 Kids program."

The first Kicks 4 Kids occurred in 2019, with 200 pairs of new shoes provided by sponsoring donors and given to the children —an arrangement very similar to the Angel Tree program conducted every Christmas. The 2020 version was cancelled because of the pandemic.

"We hope to double what was done two years ago," Stokes said.