BONNERS FERRY — A new community event aimed at supporting local veterans made its debut May 2 at North Idaho Collision Repair Center, bringing together car enthusiasts, service members and residents for a day of connection and support. 

The inaugural “Shine Your Boots & Bumpers” fundraiser featured a combination of a ruck march, car show and outreach for veteran services. Organized by Tom Chaney along with Steve and Carla Pulsifer, the event was designed as a grassroots effort to raise awareness and support for the Veterans Outreach Center. 

“We’re just trying to plant the seed,” Chaney said. “It’s a fundraiser for the VOC and a way to bring the community together.” 

The day began with an opening ceremony, followed by a ruck march which drew a small group of participants. Organizers said about five people completed the roughly 4.75-mile route, marking a modest but meaningful start for the event. 

In addition to the march, a car show brought in local vehicle owners who displayed their cars throughout the day. The combination of activities was intentional, organizers said, to appeal to a broader audience in a small community. 

“Sometimes you can’t just do one thing,” Chaney said. “You’ve got to give people options and bring different groups together.” 

Pulsifer, who helped coordinate the car show portion of the event, said the relaxed, no-registration format encouraged participation and created a welcoming environment. 

“For us, it’s not about money or registration,” he said. “It’s about giving people a place to gather and supporting veterans.” 

Organizers also emphasized the importance of collaboration among community members and local organizations. The event highlighted available veteran services and aimed to increase awareness of resources for both veterans and their families. 

“It’s really about working together,” Cheney said. “In a small community, that’s how you make things happen.” 

With favorable weather and a growing turnout throughout the day, organizers called the first-year event a success and said they hope to expand it in the future. 

“This was kind of a grassroots start,” Pulsifer said. “Now we know what to expect, and next year we can build on it.” 

Plans are already being considered to grow the event with additional participation, improved layout and increased outreach.