By Mary Stewart | The Selma Times-Journal

Moore-Stewart Ford’s recent “Drive 4 Your Community” fundraiser allowed people to test drive a new car while helping disabled veterans.

Moore-Stewart sales and finance manager Barry Parker said the dealership was excited to help support such a worthy cause.

“Ford has a program called ‘Drive 4 Your Community,’ where any organization in our market area can come to us and request the program,” Parker said. “For every person that we could get to come into the dealership, take a test drive and fill out a quick little survey, Ford will donate to that organization $20 per person.”

Willis Chappell, the director of the DAV chapter 61 in Selma, approached Moore-Stewart about hosting the event.

“We submitted their request and got approval, and we had a total of 67 people to come in and take a test drive,” Parker said. “In return, we presented them a check for $1,340. We were thrilled, and when we presented them the check they were excited too.”

The fundraiser was a one-day event, and Moore-Stewart offered Pepsi products and hotdogs that day too.

Chappell said his veterans’ group was impressed and excited with the money raised. The DAV works throughout the community to assist veterans, whether that be building a ramp at their house or providing a chair lift or wheelchair.

“Anything that we can do for the veterans, we would be glad to do it,” Chappell said.

The event was held on the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend, and there are plans to continue the fundraiser next year.

“We are looking forward to doing it again,” Parker said.

Parker said Moore-Stewart wants to help organizations that do good work in the community but especially the DAV.

“What a great cause.  They were willing to sacrifice their lives and to go out there and fight for our freedom,” Parker said. “It being around Memorial Day weekend, it was just a good timing and a great group to work with. I though it was much deserved.”

Chappell said it was an awesome fundraiser and that the organization was very thankful.

“We thank Ford Motor Company, and we really appreciate them for helping us when we needed help,” Chappell said. “We also thank Moore-Stewart Ford for assisting us because if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be able to do it.”