What’s it like to drive 1,300 miles from south Florida to Evanston in a 1953 Chevy pickup while motoring for a cause?
Evanston native and two decade plus Rotarian Don Crost did that road trip this spring to promote ShelterBox, a Rotary International initiative.
“I was surprised at how well the truck handled considering it was never meant for high-speed driving,” Crost said. “On straight level payment it was great, but once I got into rain, slicked hairpin turns in rural Georgia, it was white knuckling all the way to Tennessee.
“Some of the worst paved roads and scariest driving was when I got to I-294 in the Chicago metro area driving through the construction zones,” Crost said.
The journey started March 30 after Crost made a presentation at Sunrise Rotary Club in Sarasota, Florida, arriving on April 3 to Chicagoland.
On April 21, Crost’s blue pickup, holding green ShelterBox containers on back, was parked in front of Rotary International headquarters in downtown Evanston for a Friday event to mark Crost’s milestone as an awareness raiser for ShelterBox.
“ShelterBox has been a favorite for me since I heard about it almost 20 years ago,” Crost said. “My 1,300 mile journey was as much to raise funds for ShelterBox as it was to raise awareness of ShelterBox and what it does in conflict zones like Ukraine, Syria, Yemen and other countries, as well as natural disaster zones like the recent earthquake in Turkey, flooding in Pakistan and typhoons in the Philippines.”
Crost’s fundraising goal is $20,000. Crost will drive the Chevy classic truck to pick up a donation check for $10,000 from a donor as long as the check delivery location is in the continental United States.
“ShelterBox gives people immediate shelter after those natural disasters and conflicts,” Crost said. “It keeps families together and brings dignity and a chance to see that there may be hope at the very worst times in their lives.”
Each ShelterBox contains a large tent with room dividers plus box items such as a tools, children’s activity kits, water filters, solar lights, chargers, cooking utensils, high thermal blankets and ropes.
“The most important element in that box is hope,” Crost said.
Crost has been collecting and restoring vintage cars since he was a child. Multiple generations of Crost’s family have been born at Evanston Hospital, he said.
Crost’s family had a Crost Imports family antique and decorative arts business in Evanston for more than 120 years on Emerson Street. He also has family in the Evanston and Skokie area and plans to return from Florida to Evanston as an Evanstonian and resident.
“My family was neither rich nor poor,” Crost said, but, “my parents were always very philanthropic. I have been a charity auctioneer for a number of years, and while I don’t have millions to give, personally, I have been able to raise millions of dollars doing charity auctions.”
People passing by Crost’s truck, which was flanked by other antique cars, were given a spectacle to see and an experience in the name of philanthropy.
Crost’s journey was, “absolutely remarkable,” said Kathy Tate-Bradish of Evanston, president of the Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club.
“I think he also had a lot of fun but also it was a huge commitment,” Tate-Bradish said.
Crost stopped at nearly 10 Rotary Clubs during the journey as a ShelterBox ambassador.
“We have a motto, ‘People of Action,’ literally being on the move,” Tate-Bradish said. “The ShelterBox project is a perfect example of Rotary’s work because it’s action and education.”
Donna Lee Gulley of Northbrook was Crost’s mentor regarding ShelterBox. Gulley is with the Rotary Club of Northbrook and has been representing ShelterBox since 2008.
Since then, awareness for ShelterBox, “has grown so much,” Gulley said.
Ross Spencer of Inverness is a member of the Rotary Club of Long Grove, Kildeer and Hawthorn Woods and said about Crost, “It’s great he was able to talk to people and talk more about ShelterBox.”
Crost has two grown children, Lauren Fink of Skokie and Rachel Fink of Evanston.
“Of course I’m proud of him,” Rachel Fink said about her father and his journey. “That kind of sums up my dad, is, he really does everything for a cause. Even his leisure activities, he always tries to put some kind of purpose into it.”
Crost’s grandchildren from Skokie, Emerson Werstak, 9, a fourth-grader and Emerson’s sibling Jude Werstak, 7, a first-grader, attended Friday’s event.
Both girls hugged Crost with Emerson saying about her grandfather, “He did a good job.”
Since 2000, ShelterBox has provided shelter and lifesaving items following more than 300 disasters in nearly 100 countries.
Learn more at https://www.shelterboxusa.org.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
