Victory Junction Gang Camp Pinewood Car Build

On Wednesday a few staff members headed to Randleman, NC with our boxes of Pinewood cars and plastic containers of markers, paints and stickers. Steele Rubber Products has been sponsoring the Pinewood Car Build at Victory Junction Camp for the last few years.  The kids are different with each visit, but the positive impact on our staff is the same. It is an incredible experience.

Each year Steele Rubber Products provides plain Pinewood Derby cars that the kids transform into painted, glitzy creations for the SEMA Pinewood Derby drag race fundraiser in July.  All funds raised are shared between ChildHelp and Victory Junction Camp.

Victory Junction Gang Camp provides a summer experience for kids with chronic medical conditions or serious illness that prevents   them from attending other summer camps. The camp was founded in 2004 in honor of Nascar Driver, Adam Petty, son of Kyle Petty. ChildHelp is a nonprofit dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect.

The kids painted two vehicles, one for themselves and another to be auctioned off. It was great to see their personalities through the designs and processes that they put into making the cars the best they could. They used anything in the art center as accessories, came up with ways of painting and even priming the cars with water.

It’s much the same process that professionals go through when restoring their own cars. We find all sorts of creative ways to make that final vision come to life. It is hardly ever easy, but it is fun every step of the way. These kids, with various medical illnesses and challenges were creative, inventive, happy, strong and just really great to be around.

We are grateful for the time we were allowed to spend with them. Our staff members are already prepared for next year.

Victory Junction Gang Camp is always looking for volunteers and accepting deserving children. Visit VictoryJunction.org for more information.