DES MOINES, Iowa — Hundreds attended the 5th Annual Hot Rods for Heroes Car Show put on by the Blue Star Mothers of Iowa.

Lisa Wilson, a Blue Star Mother of Iowa and the event organizer, said the purpose of the car show was to raise money to send care packages to troops stationed over seas.

“We bring out as many cars as possible out here at DMACC, Ankeny, and we try to fill the parking lot up so that we can raise money for right now, we’re raising money for deployed Iowans. Our other military branches out there. We want to make sure that for the holidays they receive care packages,” Wilson said.

Wilson said that the Blue Star Mothers of Iowa need to raise six figures to send an estimated 2,700 care packages to the troops over the holidays. A large jump from the 600 packages sent in 2024.

“Our cost just to ship the items we’re at $77,000. That’s just the shipping. And unfortunately, we have some other high price increases coming in October. There’s going to be some hikes in our postage. So unfortunately, we need to raise a lot of money. Our overall budget for the project is over $110,000,” Wilson said.

Wilson said that the car show is a place where military families and veterans can find community.

“It’s pretty emotional. We get a lot of families out here, but we also get a lot of veterans out here. And that’s why, you know, that’s why we keep doing it year after year. The fundraising is obviously important. However, just getting our veterans in one area so that we can just share, you know, our support with them as well,” Wilson said.

The Iowa Blue Star Mothers also fundraised at the Iowa State Fair, collecting holiday cards for the soldiers care packages. The packages will be sent in November, leaving just two more months for the organization to raise funds and assemble the care packages.

To learn more about or donate to the Blue Star Mothers of Iowa, visit their website.