Upstate Legends Jeep Club Helping MARY'S House

A group of community-minded Jeep owners want to help MARY'S House. 

The Upstate Legends Jeep Club will be on hand during Pickens' Cruise-In and Music on Main night Saturday, June 23, raising money for MARY's House.

"We'll be selling special T-shirts that night and all the proceeds will go toward MARY'S House," said Terri Cassell, one of the club's co-founders. 

The shirts are $15. 

Domestic violence awareness is a cause dear to the club, Cassell said. 

One of the clubs co-founders, Gary Robinson, had a coworker who was a victim of domestic violence, Cassell said. 

"She ended up losing her life over the New Year's holiday," Cassell said. "Afterwards, we realized there were a lot of signs that indicate domestic violence. There were no red flags for her, she kept everything very quiet. We realized that if she had been aware of the signs, this possibly could have been avoided. 

"Because it hit close to home, we wanted to do something relevant," Cassell continued. "We want to try to build that awareness and raise money to support that shelter and the work that they do." 

While the club has no set fundraising goal, they're hoping those who attend the cruise-in will be generous. 

"We're counting on people to give with their hearts," Cassell said. "We've already sold a number of shirts to our club members and we're hoping that people that come out to the cruise-in will be able to help us out even more." 

The Upstate Legends Jeep Club got its start at a cruise-in about three years ago, Cassell said.  

"We set up a notebook on my husband Roger's Jeep and asked people if they were interested in going on rides," Cassell said. "It grew from there." 

The club is very community-service oriented, she said. 

"Last year we raised money and materials for Gleaning House Ministries," Cassell said. "We also help out with Country Santa. We try to be involved with community service, to try and give back." 

The club charges no dues to its members. 

"Everything we've needed, we've asked our members and they come through," Cassell said. "Anytime we've had a need in the group, people have stepped up to make it happen." 

The club does rides every month, and participates in monthly cruise-ins in Anderson and Seneca. 

"We're a very family-oriented group," she said. "We try and do things that the whole family can be a part of." 

The name of the club reflects the history of the Jeep in the area. 

"We're the Upstate Legends in honor of the legend of Larry Hinkle and Hinkle Jeep sales," Cassell said. 

The club takes an annual trip to Gatlinburg in honor of Hinkle, who traveled to Gatlinburg every year as well. 

"We do it as an annual ride and we call it 'Memory Lane' in honor of Larry Hinkle," Cassell said. 

Jeep Night is the theme of the June 23 Cruise-In and Music on Main. Each event is held on Main Street in Pickens. Parking begins at 5 pm. Each night's entertainment begins at 7pm. Katlin Owen is slated to play on Jeep Night June 23. 

Ted Russell Kamp plays the June 16 event. 

For more information about the Upstate Legends Jeep Club, visit upstate legendsjeepclub.com or search for "Upstate Legends-Jeep Club" on Facebook.