By Brandon

O’Connor

Reporter

Christmas is a time for giving back and Southwest Georgia Oil and the Howard Johnson continued this tradition by raising toys for the Bainbridge Public Safety Shop with a Cop program during their car show on Saturday.

In lieu on an entry fee, participants were asked to bring an unwrapped gift  that was then donated to BPS to give to kids that they are unable to take shopping during the Shop with a Cop program.

“We put one on in September, but no body really benefitted as far as charitable donations,” Tanner Harrell said. “This one, we decided to collect toys as an entry fee because we never charged an entry fee to the contestants.”

The 35 participants each donated a toy and others donated money that was used to buy additional toys to bring the total to around 70 toys that were donated.

“This car show is something that Mike Harrell wants done quarterly,” Tanner Harrell said. “If you are not involved in the community I don’t know what your point of existence is. Special thanks go to the car show participants, who made the toy donations possible, Glennie Bench, Mike Harrell, Bainbridge Public Safety, Chief Jerry Carter, Frank Green, Howard Johnson Staff, Southwest Georgia Oil, Dean Chrysler Dodge Jeep, DeHildren Realty, Total Petroleum, Al Collins, Jamie Elkins, Ken Chambless and Joe Barlow”

Awards were given out to the top five cars and best in show, which was awarded to Eddie & Louise Simmons of Ariton, Alabama for their red 1969 Camaro RS/SS.

The show is part of the new management team at the Howard Johnson’s effort to rebuild its relationships with the community.

“The Howard Johnson, or what used to be the Charter House, is an icon in Bainbridge and we really want to see that as an icon in Bainbridge,” Shawn Edwards, the general manager at the Howard Johnson, said. “I think as long as we continue to give back and give back to the community I think that they will be behind us.”

The plan is to host car shows throughout the year with the next one scheduled in the spring.