(CARTHAGE, N.Y.) – The Carthage Rod and Gun Club hosted the 12th Annual Shootin’ Trap for Trips fundraiser for the Volunteer Transportation Center Foundation on July 20, 2024. This year’s 50 Bird Shoot saw 85 participants and raised more than $4,200 to benefit transportation of Volunteer Transportation Center clients in Jefferson and Lewis Counties.

        “This was another great year for Shootin’ Trap for Trips,” said VTC Foundation Director and Director of Communications Jeremiah S. Papineau. “We had a slightly higher turnout last year and raised just a little more at last year’s event but the support this year, especially by local high school teams and local clubs, was nothing to sneeze at. We’re grateful to everyone who turned out.”

        “The Carthage Rod and Gun Club puts on a great shoot year after year,” he continued.

        Top Gun of this year’s 50 Bird Shoot was Bob Green with a score of (50). Other winners of the shoot were:

CLASS                                WINNER

Sub-Junior                          Caleb Burgenstock (45)

Junior                                  Colton Parkin (44)

Veteran                                John Bach (48)

Senior Veteran                     Rick Mothersell (49)

Ladies                                   Kelly St. Louis (48)

D                                          Melissa Hunt (35)

C                                           Bre Burgenstock (39)

B                                           Paul Ramos (47)

A                                          David Diana (49)

 AA                                      Bill Ritz (49)

        Mr. Papineau credited the Carthage Rod and Gun Club with their hard work behind the scenes to get this year’s event off the ground, including club president Dennis Jackson, trap team captain Alan Arndt, and kitchen manager Valda Arndt. He further credited the support of several volunteers who worked the event, including Billie Brown, Dana Brown, Brandon Brown, Jayden Brown, Jennifer McFall, Tim McFall, Penny Covey, David Covey, Nettie Mothersell, Amy Beauford, Sam Purington, Julia Purington, Aimee Reed, Kim Kern, and Terra Thompson.

        This year’s Shootin’ Trap for Trips was underwritten by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Watertown Savings Bank, Stewart’s Shops, and Advanced Business Systems. Additional sponsors included Carthage Elks Lodge 1762, CEM Machine, Croghan Meat Market, Dibble & Gellert Family Dentistry, i2i Automotive Repair, Johnson Lumber, Knowlton Technologies, Monnat & Nortz Service Center, Northern Credit Union, St. Louis Trash Service and Viking Cives USA, with additional support from Carthage Tire, Dunkin’, The Roz Bed and Breakfast, and Tops Friendly Markets.

        Raffle items were donated by Adirondack Foothills, Advantage Auto, Aubuchon Hardware, Bill’s Feed, Bowman’s Gun Shop, Brick Oven Inn, Buckingham Hardware & Great Outdoors, Cedars Golf Course, Crossroads Tavern, Dolhof True Value, Dunkin’, Eddie’s Meat Market, Farney’s Home & Building Center,

Gillee’s Auto Truck & Marine, Jeb’s Restaurant, JRECK Subs, Kathy’s Barber Shop, Keystone Lumber & Building Supply, Kinney Drugs, Lisk’s Florals, Lloyd’s of Lowville, Lowville Farmers Co-Op, Lowville Producers Dairy Cooperative, Lowville Sport & Farm, Maple Ridge Center Snow Park, Otis Technology, Pete’s Guns and Sporting Goods, Pizza Hut, Price Chopper, Roggie’s Flooring, RuMar Graphics, Sherwin Williams, Shultz Family Cheese, Silver Bench Jewelry, Simon’s Farm & Home Center, Squishy’s BBQ and Catering, Tim Fralick Custom Calls, Tops Friendly Markets, TYRO Automotive, Walmart Supercenter, West Side Bar and Grille, Donna Barnhart, David Clute, Linda Jones, Nettie Mothersell, and Sam Purington.

        Those who missed the event but who would still like to make a contribution to the VTC Foundation may do so by contacting Mr. Papineau at 315-303-2590 or email jeremiah@volunteertransportation.org.

ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER TRANSPORTATION CENTER

        The Volunteer Transportation Center, Inc. (VTC), established in 1991, drives thousands of miles each year assisting community members in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties and beyond. Over the last 30 years, this essential non-profit organization has provided rides to health care appointments, food sources and other critical needs destinations for residents.

        In 2023, volunteer drivers provided 25,314 charitable trips over 855,471 miles in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties. Of those miles, 329,819 helped those in Jefferson County, 101,766 in Lewis County, and 423,886 in St. Lawrence County. That equated to approximately $427,736 in mileage reimbursement for our volunteers. That’s why the community’s help is so important.

        The staff, boards of directors and volunteer drivers look forward to a time when transportation to community activities and services is accessible to all North Country residents regardless of economic or specialized needs. But for now the mission drives on — striving to provide transportation to health, wellness and critical needs destinations utilizing volunteers and mobility management for anyone who has barriers to transportation.

        For more information about how you can help the Volunteer Transportation Center, about its upcoming events, or to become a volunteer driver, contact the agency in Jefferson and Lewis Counties at 315-788-0422, in St. Lawrence County at 315-714-2034, or Western New York at 585-250-5030. Volunteers drive their own cars, set their own hours and receive mileage reimbursement but, more importantly, make a difference in the community. To learn more, visit www.volunteertransportationcenter.org.