Corbin Shrine Club donates over 800 toy cars to Lexington children’s hospital

At first glance, the assortment of 800 Hot Wheels^® that the Corbin Shrine Club recently collected are just toys for children that will be given out at Shriners Children’s Lexington hospital.

The Corbin Shrine Club recently collected over 800 toy cars that it is donating to Shriners Children’s Lexington hospital for children to use during their physical rehabilitation work. From left, Oleika Shriner’s Chef and Shriners Children’s Lexington Board of Governors member Derek Smith, Oleika Shriner’s Potentate Jeff Marcum and Corbin Shrine Club President Jimmy Hendrickson pose with a some of the toys destined for the children’s hospital.

These cars, besides giving a child at the hospital something fun to play with, serve another purpose though.

In the physical therapy department, the children use them to work on dexterity. Children with orthopedic problems or burns can use the cars during physical therapy to learn how to grasp small objects and hold them.

“It is a toy, but it is an extremely big learning toy for the children,” noted Derek Smith, who is on the board of governors for the Shriners Children Lexington.

The Barbourville Shrine Club also donated 1,000 Hot Wheels^® for the hospital, and Smith took 180 Hot Wheels^® to the hospital Monday.

“We are still collecting them. There is no goal. It is ever how many we can get,” Smith said. 

The cars have been collected through a number of means, including drop boxes at Appalachian Regional Hospital (ARH) in Barbourville, Old Town Grill and Northern Contours.

This fall, Knox County schools will also be collecting cars for this case.

“It is an ongoing project. It is not just a one and done thing. We use these every day in the hospital. This is a continuing fundraiser that we do,” said Jeff Marcum, who is potentate of the Oleika Shriners chapter, which is equivalent to CEO of the board of directors.

The Corbin Shrine Club reformed in October 2021 after a nearly 20-year absence. At one point it was one of the largest shrine clubs in the state, but shut down after several long-time members passed away.

Marcum noted that the Corbin club never totally went defunct because treasurer Guy Reed kept turning in annual reports keeping the charter active.

This made it much easier to get the club reinstated.

“I really am very proud of this club and the efforts they have shown in the past year and how they have grown. It makes a huge difference for our children, for our philanthropy and our community,” Marcum said.

The Corbin Shrine Club is now up to 25 members.

Corbin Shrine Club President Jimmy Hendrickson noted that the club is trying through its philanthropy to help needy kids in the area, who might need the hospital’s services. It is growing and inducted four new members during a meeting Monday night.

In terms of fundraising, it has a 5-K run/walk planned for this fall.

Also, during the Depot Street community yard sales in Corbin on the first Saturday each month, the Corbin Shrine Club is selling hot dogs as a fundraising effort.

Smith noted that Shriners owns and operates 18 orthopedic hospitals and three burn centers.

“Our mission is children 18 and under, who have some kind of problem that we can address and help. We do it completely free. There is no money involved. The care is top notch,” Smith said adding that children can be treated until they are 21 years old if there is a continuing need. “Our whole goal is to help the hospital help the kids.”

Marcum said clubs, like the Corbin Shrine Club, help raise money to pay for these services. 

Smith added that the Laurel County Shriner’s Club has free transportation available for children and their family member to the hospital and back.

Marcum thanked all those, who have donated.

In order to be a member of the Corbin Shrine Club, you must first become a Mason. After completing the three degrees in the Masonic Lodge, you can then become a Shriner.

Anyone wanting to donate can contact Derek Smith at (606) 515-0333, Jimmy Hendrickson at (606) 304-2930 or contact the Oleika Shriner’s Temple at (859) 277-6869.