Tin Rally thankful fun time

    Beaver Dam – J&J’s Getaway hosts four special events each year, but co-owner Jessie Callahan said the Thankful Tin Rally is her favorite.
    “This event always has a cause that proceeds are donated to,” Callahan said. “It’s about giving back and showing gratitude.”
    Each year, there is a theme and a corresponding cause. This year, the theme was Western and the charitable cause was a western North Carolina family whose lives were deeply affected by Hurricane Helene that devastated much of the region in September 2024.
    The family receiving the donations – a couple with four children under age 10 – live in Burnsville, one of the areas hit the hardest by Helene.
    “Their home was flooded beyond repair and declared unlivable, the bridge leading to their property was destroyed and their car was washed away by flood waters,” Callahan said.
    In the almost nine months since the hurricane hit, the family has received zero aid from FEMA, but Callahan said they’ve continued to try and find normalcy in their everyday life. They even help others and give back to their community.
    “They’ve been able to get a loan for a mobile home that is being constructed, and we wanted to help them to begin to rebuild their home and lives,” Callahan said.
    The weekend-long event started with campers arriving Thursday to have a community cookout and bonfire later that evening. Friday featured line dancing lessons, lasso fun with PBR Jason Roberts, and ended the day with music by Southern Vantage Band and food from the Smoke Street Grill truck.
    Saturday featured an open house, inviting all campers and members of the community to enjoy lemonade from The Lemon Aid Station and tour the 20-plus vintage, customized campers.
    “They’re all so unique and beautiful in their own ways, and we love getting to spend time with old and new friends each year,” Callahan said.
    One of the raffle items was a customized Tin Can Wanderer hat made by Sara Jean Garrison-Carroll at Calamity Jean Flannel. A bottle of elderberry fire cider was also donated by Coleman Homestead for the raffle.
    The evening ended with a Western-themed potluck dinner along with a camper gift exchange and awards to receive a Top Banana Award, along with a prize bundle of cozies, a retro Bluetooth speaker, and a vinyl coaster set for the Favorite Western Site/Camper and Favorite Camper Overall.
    The event closed out Sunday with farewell donuts and coffee. Donations collected over the weekend and proceeds from open house raffles totaled $2,800, which Callahan and co-owner Jason Dusenberry will deliver to the Burnsville family.
    “While the Thankful Tin Rally is a fun gathering with camping friends it’s also a time to reflect on all the things we’re thankful for,” Callahan said.
    J&J’s Getaway will host a Fun N the Sun Gathering from July 24-27 and a Halloween Rally from Oct. 23-26.
    Details: J&J’s Getaway is at 87 Horton Road north of Murphy. Visit jandjsgetaway.com.