AGAWAM –  Gleaming chrome, sleek leather, and powerful engines – car shows are a staple of summer. But not all shows give back to the community. 

Paul Frasco and Chris Vella, owners of Pro & Local Detailing, chose a car show when they decided to put on a charity event in 2018.

“We wanted to do a military-related charity,” said Frasco, especially since Vella is in the Air Force. They were concerned, however, that if they donated to a larger corporate charity, they wouldn’t know where the money went. That’s why they decided that all proceeds from the car show would go to the Holyoke Soldier’s Home.

Established in 1952, the Holyoke Soldier’s Home is a 247-bed, long-term healthcare facility open to eligible Massachusetts veterans.

“The Soldier’s Home is the perfect place. We know where the money is going,” Frasco said.

"Any donations that we get – we use it to better the lives of our veterans,” Debra Foley, communications director for the Soldier’s Home, told Reminder Publishing. Donations in the past have been used to purchase state-of-the-art shower chairs that make the process easier for the veterans and their caregivers and “preserve their dignity,” Foley said.

They have also used donations to improve the veteran’s dining experience and to purchase “companion pets,” mechanical cats that respond to touch and voices. These “pets” help calm older adults with dementia or memory loss, Foley said.

“It’s so nice that they want to do something for veterans,” said Foley.

But why do one charity event, when you can do two? On Aug. 16, Pro & Local Detailing is partnering with Carrabba’s Italian Grille in West Springfield for what they’re calling Cars and Carrabbas. Frasco said that from 3 to 6 p.m., Carrabbas will donate 20 percent of customers’ bills to the Soldier’s Home.

“I’m inviting my customers and anyone who wants to come out to pop up their hood in the parking lot. He said it’ll be a preview of the car show on Aug. 25. 

Frasco said last year’s car show was a test run. They had 45 cars and raised $430 for the Soldier’s Home.

“We only advertised for, like, two weeks,” he said. “This year we’ve been advertising for months.” Frasco said he has used radio, Facebook, and flyers to get the word out. On the Facebook event page alone, 71 people have indicated they will attend.

“I’m expecting between 100 and 200 cars.”

This year’s show runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at “The Tank,” American Legion 185, located at 478 Springfield St. in Feeding Hills. Hosting the event this year will be DJ Pat Kelly from Lazer 99.3. 

In addition to cars, there will be food trucks, coffee, drinks, awards, and raffle prizes. The show is sponsored by Carrabba’s Italian Grille, Circuit Coffee, Rick’s Auto Body, Peak Graphics, Mothers Polish, State Line Propane & Oil, and Eddie & Angie’s Food Engine.

While the car show is free for spectators, the cost of vehicle entry is a donation in any amount to the Soldier’s Home. All makes and models are welcome to enter.