For years, Jimmy’s Truckin’ Tribute has been a fun event filled with music, games, food and more to honor the life of James (Jimmy) Holbert. Though it was the ninth and final tribute this past Saturday, they still had a great turnout.

Jimmy’s Truckin’ Tribute is put on by volunteers and committee members from Jimmy’s Helping Hands, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charity organization, as part of the James Holbert Memorial Fund that helps local community members in need and is responsible for the Valley Central School District’s Jimmy Holbert Memorial Scholarship. Friends and family of James Holbert make up the group, and all proceeds from the tribute go toward Jimmy’s Helping Hands, Inc.

The event, which took place at Thomas Bull Memorial Park on July 29, began with a truck ride around Montgomery at noon. Mike Bliss, Walden’s Parks and Recreation coordinator and a longtime Jimmy’s Truckin’ Tribute volunteer, explained that it’s a 45-minute ride around the Town of Montgomery. During that ride, there is a tribute for James Holbert on Channel 107.3.

“It’s a good way to sit back, remember Jimmy and come back and have a fun family event,” said Bliss.

After the truck ride, friends and family gathered at the park for live music, food, a poker run, tricky tray, cornhole and more. Anyone could attend, unless you wanted to eat, then there was a small fee. Despite this, everyone was invited to come, even if it was just to support or share a story.

Diane Holbert, mother to James Holbert, also shared a few words alongside her family.

“As you know, this is our last final ride of Truckin’ Tribute and there’s been a lot of you who have been here the whole nine years with us doing this. So, we just want to take some time to thank you for supporting us and helping support what we’re doing,” Diane Holbert said, who also noted many of the things Jimmy’s Helping Hands, Inc. does. “We started our charity and now we’re able to give a scholarship every year in the high school. We help out a couple of local families at Christmas time. We also give donations to families in need. A lot of people have gone through some medical issues [and] we’ve been able to help them out a little bit here and there. We’ve donated to the food pantry, we’ve donated [in] all different ways and it’s because of your generosity that we’ve been able to do that,” said Diane Holbert.

Around the pavilion there were photo collages, prizes, t-shirts for sale, grills, trucks and more. There was even a cash prize for the best poker hand, along with a truck and car show.

All in all it was a rainy, humid day, but despite this, locals still showed up to support and honor James Holbert’s life.

“Jimmy was a young man that just gave,´ Bliss stated. “so that’s what we are trying to do.”