Ray Smelser of the Cotton Flats Cruisers Car Club presents a $500 donation to the automotive technology program at Russellville High School. The Cruisers have been donating throughout the community to a number of causes.

Civic involvement is alive and well in Franklin County – particular when it comes to the Cotton Flats Cruisers Car Club.

The club is well-known for its classic car shows, but what might or might not be well known is the club’s willing donations to different organizations and groups throughout the community – most recently, a $500 gift for the Helping Santa gift collection program, coordinated by the Russellville Fire Department.

In a resolution approved at the Nov. 16 Russellville City Council meeting, the council thanked the car club for the donation, which will help provide gifts for Christmas for children in need in Russellville and Franklin County.

“That’s the type of people who make this program work,” said Fire Chief Joe Mansell. “If it wasn’t for people like that, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. We appreciate what they’ve done.”

The club also donated recently to the automotive technology program at Russellville High School and makes annual donations to the American Cancer Society.