When Durwood Merrill encountered a young child with worn out shoes and a mother who couldn’t afford to replace them, Evelyn Yeager decided that she wanted to do something to help children in her community.

She told the Major League Baseball umpire that she would call the school to see where there were needs in Hooks.

“One day, the principal called me and said there was a family in need across the street from the school with two kids in school and a four-year-old at home. I went over there and the mom came to the door in shorts in December. She didn’t have a heater, a refrigerator … and the back door was laying on the ground and windows knocked out,” Yeager said.

She purchased a refrigerator, a heater and winter weather clothing for the family and a flashlight for the young boy.

That was in 1977, and it was Yeager’s first family to help.

More than 45 years later, Yeager is still helping children in need with the Hooks Children’s Christian Ministries. The ministry has helped thousands of families in Hooks by providing food and children’s clothing at Christmas.

Yeager said the success of the organization is due to the financial support of the community and her faith in Jesus.

“If I have a need, He fills it,” Yeager said. “I have prayed to him, telling him that I need something for one of the kids. And the next thing I know, I find it. It is usually the last one on the shelf, but it is the exact size I need.”

The David Briggs Memorial Car Show is donating 100% of their entry fee proceeds to the ministry. The car show is this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 307 Ave. G in Hooks.

“On July 13, you can probably choose from ten plus shows to attend … but I promise that if you attend this show, you’re going to provide Christmas and/or food and clothing to a kid in this town,” said David G. Briggs, founder of the car show.