Cruizin' for a Cause revs up for another season of giving

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Gary Maddocks remembers his younger years when cars and cruise nights used to be quite prominent in the center of Johnston at such places as the one-time Burger Chef and Howard Johnsons, just to name a few former business locations.

So, four years ago, Maddocks-who once served as Deputy Police Chief in Johnston and is now Chief of Security/Maintenance at the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation – teamed with Anthony Ferranti and Gina Sabitoni-Arakelian and brought back those nostalgic nights of old back to town.

However, their mission was more than just getting classic car owners together to show off their valuable vehicles.

Back on April 3, 2015, the now highly popular Johnston Street Machines was founded and ever since then the non-profit has raised thousands of dollars for various Rhode Island-based charities.

In keeping with tradition, the JSM’s Cruizin’ for a Cause will begin their fourth anniversary season tonight, May 3, inside its only home, the Denny’s All-American Restaurant parking lot located at 1448 Hartford Avenue inside the Johnston Towne Centre.

Last year, the JSM took in upwards of $4,800 during five months for a number of charities, the highest of which was $1,385 for the nationally acclaimed Meeting Street School in Providence.

Tonight’s event, which will begin at 5 o’clock continue until 8 p.m., will be the first of five May cruises held on Thursday nights that will again benefit Meeting Street School. The other dates are May 10, 17, 24 and 31.

“We’re ready, excited and hoping old man weather cooperates this time,” Maddocks said, noting that in previous years “we’ve been rained out early in the season.”

For those not familiar with the JSM’s Cruizin’ for a Cause, there’s no cost for spectators who walk all over the Denny’s parking lot admiring all kinds of vintage vehicles while listening to oldies music played through a portable sound system by Richard George, DJ The Car Guy, a retired public school administrator turned noted disc jockey in his retirement years.

For classic car owners, the JSM asks for a $5 donation upon entry with the car and all that money is pooled and given to the month’s benefiting charity. In the event of rain, the night’s cruise will most likely be cancelled.

Maddocks said any street machines are welcome and in past years the Thursday night cruises have included hot rods, pro street, street rods, antique and classic cars as well as motorcycles and choppers have made up the weekly cruises the highlight of which comes the last Thursday of each month with Trophy Night.

“We give trophies for the Best in Show and other categories,” Maddocks noted while talking about Trophy Night. “We also have a raffle every cruise night and ask people to bring non-perishable food items we donated other RI Community Food Bank.”

In return, people who do donate at least one non-perishable food item receive a special ticket that makes them eligible for the night’s raffle prizes.

“All our proceeds are donated to a monthly charity,” Maddocks said while announcing that A Wish Come True, Friends of Homeless Animals and the Johnston Street Machines will benefit from cruises beginning tonight and continuing through the last Thursday of August. “No one gets paid; we’re all volunteer non-profit that has enjoyed bringing back those nostalgia-filled nights of yesteryear to Johnston in form of Cruizin’ for a Cause.”

As a special show of appreciation for what the JSM has done for charities, Denny’s will again give 20 percenr off to those people who donate $5 at the entrance with their street machine.

Likewise, neighboring 5 Guys Hamburgers will show its support by donating 10 percent of its Thursday night sales to the JSM. Price Rite has also showed its support and donated gift cards for the weekly raffles and Steve Nelson of Johnston-based Nelson Oil Company will be donating a total of 75 trophies for the 2018 season.

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