SAVE THE DATEA packing party for the next shipment of CDs and DVDs for Tunes 4 the Troops will take place at 9 a.m. June 19 at Cleveland High School. The goal is to collect 100,000 by then. Financial assistance toward shipping costs is also welcome.
This month’s MainStreet Cruise-In in Cleveland, Tenn., comes with a “Fill It Up” challenge to benefit men and women serving in the Armed Forces overseas.
The goal is to fill a Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 with donated CDs and DVDs to give to Kaylee Marie Radzyminski’s Tunes 4 the Troops. Radzyminski, who has gained national attention for this ongoing project, said the effort is not about taking a position on the war but about supporting the troops.
“They sacrifice so much for us, so why can’t we give something back,” she said.
The collection challenge will begin with the streets closing at 1 p.m. Saturday, when the cruisers begin entering the downtown area. The 3000GT VR4 is on loan courtesy of Ariel Lusk of Lee’s Used Books & Media, who already has started taking donations.
The cruise-in formally gets under way at 3 p.m. with a performance set to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” by Cleveland Middle School’s award-winning dance team, under the direction of Kelly Owens. The dancers will be followed by a DJ, who will entertain with music from over four decades of movies, in keeping with the night’s theme of “Saturday Night at the Movies.” At 5 p.m., the Boogie Men will take the stage.
The first 200 cars to enter the cruise-in and donate CDs and/or DVDs will get a “Support Our Troops” vinyl cling donated by Razzberry’z Gift Shoppe. Razzberry’z also will accept donations beforehand.
Tunes 4 the Troops has collected more than 730,000 CDs and DVDs since its beginning in 2005. A goal has been set to collect 1 million CDs and DVDs by this Christmas.
For more information about the MainStreet Cruisers call Joe Sharp 423-559-0836 or visit www.mainstreetcleveland.com. The Tunes 4 the Troops website is www.tunes4the troops.org.