One of the biggest annual local fundraisers for the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Home is just around the corner.

On Saturday, Sept. 21, the Troup County Sheriffs’ Office will host its 10th annual car show to benefit Pineland from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Pyne Road Park. More than 50 years ago, sheriffs of Georgia founded the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes, a residential care program, to help children who have been abandoned, neglected and abused. The annual fundraiser helps support the one of five Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes in the state that is located in Troup County.

“I would really like for people to understand what Pineland does for the kids they take in,” said Judy Pruitt, who is helping organize the event. “They do everything as far as providing them a place to live, clothes. They go to school. … They have other things that they can do out there at the youth home whether they are primitive camping or playing ball.”

Pruitt said that at Pineland, the boys receive the things they need, including clothes, shoes, toiletries and positive relationships. 

“I’ve always been a big supporter of Pineland, and the car show helps support the things that I need to buy for them,” Sheriff James Woodruff said.

The car show typically features entries from all over the country and raises tens of thousands of dollars for local youth.

This year registration will be at the door, and awards will be given out at the event for best car, best truck, best motorcycle and sheriff’s choice. Pruitt said that those registered for the show will be able to vote on best car, truck and motorcycle.

“We have a classic car, and when Major Nixon gave [the car show] up a couple of years ago, there was no one else to take it on, and having a car show is something that car enthusiasts like to go to,” Pruitt said. “It is a family event.”

Pruitt thanked all of the sponsors who help out at the car show each year, and she said that donations of items, gift cards and money are still needed for the auction and the 50/50 raffle. The car show will also feature several vendors, hamburgers donated by Kimble’s Food by Design and DJ Larry Harris.

For registration and vendor information, contact Pruitt at (706) 594-5314 or Barbara Waldrop at (706) 880-1404. To learn more about Georgia Sheriffs’ Pineland Youth Home or how you can help, visit Georgiasheriffsyouth.org/index.php/pineland-camp-pioneer.