Jeeps for a cause: Local club hosts show to support Animal Shelter and encourage community fun  

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) --  A local club is organizing a Jeep show to support The Friends of the St. Joseph Animal Shelter.   

The Show Me Jeep Club was founded in 2004, and it aims to meet once a month to have a plan mapped out for events members plan to set up that year.  

The members of the club organize parades, fundraisers and take road trips across the nation to host events like the Jeep show.    

“It’s just a lot of like-minded people where everybody loves Jeeps, so we like to get together and visit ice cream places and just have a fun time,” said Shad Baird, president of the club.

Baskin-Robbins is helping the club fund this year’s Jeep show. The event will have raffle prizes and drawings. The proceeds of the year will go towards the St. Joseph Animal Shelter.

The show will also feature adoptable animals from the shelter.

“This is a pretty big event that we do. Usually in the beginning of the year, we plan on having the Jeep show, but we will also host some parades throughout the town,” Baird said.   

The goal of this club is to engage with the community and host events for the community to have fun with their family and friends.     

“The main thing was to put our club name on it so people can see it and want to get involved, and that helped us get a few members to join the club,” said John Swanson, founder of the Jeep club. 

Club members plan community service projects, like cleaning up trails, cutting down trees and branches or even repairing items to raise money for events like the annual Jeep show.

When it comes to taking trips, the Jeep Club always makes sure to incorporate safe practices to ensure club members feel comfortable.

“We have a Facebook page called Just Show Me Jeep Club, and you can find out all our events there and give us a follow to know when our next meeting will be,” Baird said.   

Club members hope to raise more awareness for the events they host, as well as increase the shared community passion for Jeeps.