CHOCOWINITY — Volunteers with the Chocowinity Fire Department are getting things in gear for their ninth-annual Spring Heat Car, Motorcycle, Truck and Big Rig Show, scheduled for May 21.

The department will host the event on the campus of Chocowinity Middle School.

“Everything we raise will be used for the fire department,” said Fire Chief Tommy Pendley. “It will be used to purchase equipment and gear, pay for insurance and to meet other needs.”

Although the event is more than two months away, Pendley said it’s never too early to begin work on the project.

“Our main goal right now is getting money to help put on the show,” he said. “Everybody that helps us, we’re really going to put their names out there. Without them we couldn’t afford to do this show.”

Pendley said sponsorship levels range from $100 to $1,500 — with larger donations paying for trophies, the band and T-shirts — and will come with perks for area businesses that support the show.

“We’re going to use Facebook, Twitter, event posters and fliers for the show to get the businesses’ names out there,” he said. “For the higher sponsorship levels, we’ll have banners and radio advertising, and we’ll put their names on the t-shirts.”

Free chicken plates are also part of the “thank you” packages being offered to sponsors, according to Pendley. And businesses donating the most money will have the option of having their names on trophies awarded the day of the show.

The sponsorship monies raised during the campaign will be used to pay all upfront bills incurred to host the show. Pendley said it typically costs the fire department approximately $6,000 to get the show off the ground each year.

During the show itself, the fire department plans several fundraising projects, including the sales of chicken dinner plates and a 50/50 raffle. In addition, raffle tickets will be sold. Prizes will include a selection of Yeti products.

Anyone interested in entering an automobile in the show may contact Charlie Elks at 252-945-1248 for more information. Vendor space is also available; to request further details, contact fire department auxiliary president Regina Elks at 252-945-0601.

Businesses and individuals interested in becoming show supporters are asked to contact Pendley at 252-714-3774 or assistant fire chief Brian Avery at 252-945-2170.