The Heights Car Show to host socially distanced event and food drive

The team behind the annual Heights Car Show has found a creative way to host the event after it was called off in April.

A member of a local car club approached event organizer Brian Ratcliff with the idea to hold a socially-distanced event that would entertain the community while also giving back. That is what sparked the idea for a drive-thru car show and food drive, Ratcliff said.

“In this coronavirus age we are in, everybody is cooped up looking for things to do,” Ratcliff said. “I thought this would be a really fun thing to do and it would solve the problems food banks are having right now.”

The Heights Car Show partnered with the Dallas Area Pontiac Association and several other car clubs to host the Food Drive Cruise-In. In previous years, participants would park their vehicles, view other cars and visit with guests at the event. To minimize interaction, this year cars will enter through the atrium entrance on Renner Road and process through The Heights Church campus. Guests are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs to enjoy the event in a socially distanced manner.

The 2020 show will mark the event’s 13th anniversary, Ratcliff said. Over the years, attendees and participants have donated more than $59,000 and 8,000 pounds of food to Network of Community Ministries, a local food pantry serving residents of Richardson ISD.

The event has already received a positive response from the community, Ratcliff said. Members of several area clubs have said they will participate, he said.

“There [are] going to be quite a few cars coming through on Saturday,” Ratcliff said.

All donations will go to Network, which Ratcliff said event organizers chose because they believe in the nonprofit’s mission.

“We feel comfortable when we give our assets to them that they're going to use it for the right purposes,” he said.

The free event will take place Saturday, July 11 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at The Heights Church, which is located at 201 W. Renner Road, Richardson. Donations of nonperishable food items, diapers and cash can be dropped off at the event. To find out more information, visit www.theheights.org.