COAL GROVE — When thieves vandalized the Ironton Lions Club’s Haunted Tunnel, the fate of a major fundraiser for the community was in question.

Among those shocked by the destruction were fellow Lions at the Coal Grove club.

Now that club is offering a helping hand as it organizes its first cruise-in for the upcoming July holiday weekend.

“We voted unanimously to give a portion of our proceeds to the Ironton Lions Club to help to what happened to them,” Tom Carey, Coal Grove Lions Club president, said. “The Ironton and Coal Grove Lions, we all belong to the same thing and have the same goals.”

The Cruise-In is set for Saturday, July 2, from 2 to 9 p.m. at Dawson-Bryant High School. The event is open to all vehicles, from vintage cars and tractors to motorcycles.

“We will have a registration fee for $5 for each person who wants to show a vehicle,” Carey said. “If they have one for sale, they can bring it up and put it in. And we will have some really neat prizes for those who participate.”

The Cruise-In will also have a split the pot where tickets will be sold and the one drawn will split the money with the club. There will also be drawings for items valued for more than $100 from electric grinders to welder hood to free hair cuts for a year to two front row seats at a Marshall University football game.

There will also be drawings for four $25 gas cards and $25 gift cards.

The Coal Grove club is in a resurgence with a mission to appeal to a variety of ages and to raise funds to help out its community.

“We are just getting re-established. We have had a tremendous growth,” Carey said. “Our club has grown its membership two to three times in the last few months. We are getting good solid people. We are going to have all different age groups. Things that 18 and 19-year-olds are interested in.”

Tuesday night when the club voted to help out the Ironton Lions, Lou Pyles, that club’s president, was contacted with the news of the upcoming donation.

“I think it is wonderful,” Pyles said. “When (Carey) called me, I was speechless. Our club appreciates it. It is very humbling. Coal Grove tries hard to take care of their community. It shows you what great people are in the Lions Club.”

Carey said the cruise-in is the first of its kind for the Coal Grove club and members are hoping it will be successful.

“We don’t know what we can do, but our hearts are in the right place,” Carey said.