BY ROB DAVIS
FOR THE OBSERVER
OPELIKA — A caravan of classic cars traveled across Lee County last Friday en route to the Food Bank of East Alabama to deliver a check that will help to feed neighbors in need this holiday season.
The Opelika-based car club Low & Slow Cruisers made its largest donation to the food bank since it began the annual holiday tradition. All of the money donated to the food bank comes from personal donations from club members. According to club co-crew chief Leigh Crenshaw, the idea to give back to the community happened organically a few years ago.
“We had been together for a few years, and some of us got to talking one day about how we should do something to help the people in our community,” Crenshaw said. “We thought about all of the charities and nonprofits in the area and picked the Food Bank of East Alabama because food is a basic necessity for people to survive.”
The Food Bank of East Alabama is the regional headquarters for hunger relief. Partnering with over 200 agencies, including soup kitchens, pantries and shelters, the food bank relies on retail donations, food drives and individual donors. According to the Food Bank of East Alabama, there are over 65,000 people who face hunger across the seven counties the bank serves. Last year the food bank provided 4,560,154 meals to families and individuals. The mission of the Food Bank of East Alabama is “To nourish lives through a strong and equitable hunger relief network while multiplying the generosity of a caring community.”
Crenshaw is a cardiology medical coder and volunteer at the Cusseta Fire Department. Her interest in classic cars — and cars in general — was passed down from her father, who owned a car parts store in Opelika and worked on classic cars.
“I guess I was just always around cars and people who worked on cars,” Crenshaw said. “After my father passed, I bought a 1968 Camaro and had it restored. I started taking it to car shows and that’s when I was approached about joining the Low & Slow car club.”
According to Crenshaw there are a little more than 100 members of the Low & Slow Cruisers. She said anyone is welcome to join the club and you don’t have to own a classic car.
“If you’re into cars, come on out,” Crenshaw said. “We don’t really brand ourselves a classic car club. We’re really just a car club for anybody who loves cars.”
As of Jan. 1 2026, Crenshaw will become the leader and crew chief of the car club. She said her goal is to continue to grow the number of club members as well as increase the yearly donation to the food bank. Anyone interested in joining the Low & Slow Cruisers can do so on the club’s Facebook page.
