Southern Cross Car Club fulfills 21 Christmas wish lists for Childrens Advocacy Center

The Texoma-area Southern Cross Car Club held its sixth annual Toy Run on Dec. 7. Thanks to fundraising and community support, the club was able to fulfill Christmas wish lists for 21 children served by the Children’s Advocacy Center of Sherman.

Five years ago, car club member Brandon White and two others decided they wanted to do something to give back to the community.

“I put some feelers out, reached out to the school counselors and asked for good places to donate toys at Christmastime,” White said. “They suggested we look into the Children’s Advocacy Center.”

Several car club members toured the center and decided unanimously that this was the organization they wanted to benefit.

The center provides services and a safe space for children during an active child abuse investigation process.

“Seeing the facility and knowing the work they do, it really makes you want to help them,” White said. 

“We went in there big, burly, tough guys and left with tears in our eyes.”

In its early years, the car club’s annual Toy Run provided random toys to the center. White felt it wasn’t good enough.

He developed a relationship with a center staff member and worked with them to create a more personal experience.

The center provided the car club with wish lists from children ages 2-14 years old listing their age, gender and a list of items they’d like for Christmas.

“This year, we filled 21 lists,” White said. “It was a really good year for us.”

Southern Cross Car Club hosted the car shows at this year’s Whitesboro Peanut Festival and Collinsville Pioneer Day. Thanks to the support from each city’s Chamber of Commerce, proceeds from both events went directly toward the Toy Run.

Community members and car club members also donated money to the cause. In addition to fulfilling the 21 wish lists, Southern Cross Car Club was also able to provide the center with $3,540 in cash.

“It was really fun to fill those lists,” White said. “There’s so much negativity in the world, seeing people come running to help this cause -- it really restores your faith in people.”

On Dec. 7, the car club met at O’Reilly’s in Gainesville to load up 25 cars with toys. From there, they caravaned to the Children’s Advocacy Center, unloaded the toys, then went out and enjoyed lunch together.

“We made a whole day of it,” White said.

The mission of the Southern Cross Car Club is to generate funds to help support other organizations.

“We’re just a bunch of car guys with big hearts who like to help people,” White said.

The club was happy with this year’s Toy Run, but the 21 wish lists they were able to fill were only half of the children who could have benefited this year.

The club is looking forward to making next year’s even bigger and better.

“Who knows? With the generosity of our communities, it’s possible that next year we could fulfill all of the wish lists!” White said.

The club is always looking for other organizations and worthy causes to support. To share suggestions, please call Brandon White at 903-815-9323.