ABOUT US

The Jeep has a long and dignified military history, and from the very beginning they captured the attention and admiration of people everywhere. They served their country and their people in the war in Europe and the Pacific and helped defeat the Axis powers and bring peace to the world.

War correspondent Ernie Pyle characterized the Jeep vehicle in this way. “It’s as faithful as a dog, as strong as a mule and agile as a goat.”

Jeep vehicles were used by every division of the U.S. Military and large numbers were also shipped to the Allied Forces of Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

Jeep vehicles became a vital part of all action on land. They were used to lay telephone communications, transport the wounded and served as taxis to carry battle commanders, generals, prime ministers and presidents.

Source: http://www.hrja.org/jeep.htm

Based on this long-standing history of service, I thought it would be a great way to use that history to bring Jeepers and Jeep enthusiasts together to help support our Veterans and their families. We will also support our First Responders who are regularly on the scenes, helping with traumatic events.

Beyond the Jeep military pedigree, Jeep owners often share a passion for their vehicles and are friendly and helpful by nature:

  • The Jeep Wave
  • Towing or winching non-Jeeps out of mud pits
  • Using on-board air systems to help inflate someone’s leaking tire
  • Helping fix a broken down vehicle because of all the spare parts and tools many Jeep owners carry
  • And the list goes on…

What better group of people to bring together to help support our Veterans, First Responders and their families that are in need.

Jeep ambulance

Image source: www.olive-drab.com

FAQs

Who can participate?

Anyone with a Jeep or other off-road vehicle!

Whether you have a bone stock Jeep, an uber-customized trail rig, a pampered pavement princess or a rusty old beat-up Samurai, you’re invited to join us for our food drive convoy. Some of our participating Jeeps in the year-end December food drive have even shown up topless!

Is Jeepers for Vets a club?
  • No, it’s an opportunity for any Jeep owners to join together to help support the community.
  • There are no memberships, no regular meetings, no club runs, etc, etc.
Who receives the donations from food drives?
  • The Veterans Association Food Bank will be the initial recipient of the donations. They, in turn, pack hampers for distribution to Veterans or their families.
  • Dependents of Veterans also receive assistance from the Veterans Association Food Bank, which is why we also ask for items for children’s school lunches.
What should I donate?
  • Non-perishable food items and toiletries are needed.
  • Donation ideas.
Is this only for modified / trail rigs?
  • Definitely not! Most of the Jeeps on the roads are stock, and a Jeep is a Jeep regardless of what it looks like.
  • You will certainly see some modified Jeeps, as we’ve had good support in the past from groups like the Calgary Jeep Junkies, Calgary Jeep Association and the Red Deer Packrats.
  • Because the food drive is generally run in December, some of the participants dress up their vehicles in Christmas decorations which adds a festive flair.
  • One of the Legions suggested that the Jeeps attach the Canadian flag to the vehicles during the convoy. This was started during the 2016 event, and it looked great!
Can I do tire climbs, donuts, engine revving, articulation on other vehicles, tire smoking, etc?
  • Absolutely not. No stunting or unsafe behaviour of any kind will be tolerated.
Do we only do the annual food drive?

No, some of the other events have included:

  • A Halloween meetup at the Calgary Corn Maze
  • Assisting with the setup of the annual Field of Crosses memorial along Memorial Drive
  • Collecting donations (from the annual Ride to Work Day event) for the Homes for Heroes Foundation