Car show revs up for Food Bank

MUSA’S MACHINE: Iyman and Jennifer Musa, who brought the Mustang Club of New England to Johnston Sunday, stand beside their 1972 Columbia Club Mustang that was one of over three dozen vintage vehicles that showed up for the unique “Cars and Coffee” event.

MUSIC MAKERS: Diane Reizovic of Taunton, Ma. is joined by Iyman Musa, 16, a Johnston High School student who plays football on Cherry Hill, at the disc jockey stand during Sunday’s “Cars and Coffee” show in War Memorial Park. (Sun Rise photos by Pete Fontaine)

Posted Thursday, August 9, 2018 9:42 am

By Pete Fontaine

There was a small sea of Mustangs inside Johnston Memorial Park for five hours Sunday.

There was Iyman Musa’s spiffy 1972 Columbia Blue Mustang convertible that has been so well maintained the original upholstery still looks like new.

There was Roger Reizovic’s striking orange GT with a glass roof that looks as if it had just rolled out of the showroom.

In all, there were 35 Mustangs of all models, years and colors who set up shop in the pristine park for a day of “Coffee and Cars” that Musa and his wife Jen brought to Johnston to raise money and fill up the shelves of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Almost all the Mustangs, which were all in vintage condition, are owned by members of the Mustang Club of New England, Inc.

“We would have liked to have had more cars,” Musa, a Johnston resident who doubles as a member of the club’s Board of Directors and is the Rhode Island State Director. “Maybe it was the hot and humid temperatures … whatever, we’re extremely happy for the turnout and definitely want to have another show here next year.”

Reizovic, who serves as the New England club’s Membership Chairman and is a member of the Board of Directors, offered: “This is a great venue for a show; we’d like to come back next year and get the word out earlier.”

Like the Musa’s, Reizovic and his wife Diane also had a hand in the show’s success that included taking in $5 per car and asking owners to donate at least two cans of non-perishable foods.

“The people who did come here today were generous,” Iyman Musa added while encouraging his son Iyman, 16, to join Diane Reizovic at the disc jockey stand where he was providing valuable assistance for the oldies type music that echoed throughout War Memorial Park. “We’re happy with what we started.”

So were other members of the Mustang Car Club of New England, who realized the event’s importance and came to Johnston to provide a boost for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

“We’ve got members here today who came from all over the state,” Jen Musa said. “They came from Massachusetts and Connecticut as well as Vermont. We’d like to thank each and every attendee for their generous donations and are looking forwards to next year’s show.”

Those who’d like more information about the Mustang Club of New England, its mission statement or even a membership application should look on the non-profit’s website at www.mccne.com.