The Rare Air Dub Club has been doing its holiday light cruises for years but club president Rusty Pooler said 2020 has definitely felt different.
It’s not just the fact that the members of the group, which caravans in their decorated Volkswagen vehicles throughout the month of December, have to wear masks and socially distance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact they’re having has changed as well, said Pooler, recalling a recent drive-by past a hospital emergency room.
“A mom of a young girl came out of the emergency department just to watch the parade of cars go by,” he said. “And that to me was - you know, no matter what - we just made whatever was happening a little bit better for that person tonight.”
The group has made stops assisted living facilities and hospital parking lots during shift changes a mainstay of their route. The sight of the lit up caravan of dozens of Beetles, buses and dune buggies is one that people can’t help but stop and smile at, Pooler said.
“Every single one of them has its own personality,” he said. “They all have a character and I think that comes through even to the people who aren’t car people. They sense it.”
The cruises are also part of an effort to encourage donations to the Food Bank for Larimer County. Donations can be dropped off at Ed Carroll Volkswagen in Fort Collins.
The Rare Air Dub Club’s final holiday light cruise of the season will begin at 5 p.m. Dec. 19 in Loveland. The route is posted on the group’s Facebook page.
