Car wash by Elks raises $1,300 for Supportive Care/Hospice

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Mike Dugan, left, and Mike Jenks, both members of Albion Elks Lodge, present a check for $1,300 to Maggie Stewart, director of development at Supportive Care of Orleans/Hospice. The check represented the proceeds of a car wash the Elks Lodge and Elks Riders Motorcycle Club did to benefit Supportive Care.

ALBION – In early spring, Mike Jenks, vice president of the Albion Elks Lodge, reached out to Supportive Care of Orleans/Hospice to see if there was anything they could do for the organization.

“He pitched a couple of suggestions and we settled on a car wash,” said Maggie Stewart, director of development for Supportive Care.

The car wash was July 30 at the Elks Lodge on West State Street. It ran for four hours, and when it ended, the Elks had raised $1,300 for Supportive Care.

“That’s amazing,” Stewart said Friday when Jenks and fellow Elk member Mike Dugan presented the check. “We are very grateful.”

The car wash was a combined effort of the Elks Lodge and the Elks Riders Motorcycle Club, Jenks said.

“It is our goal to help people in need,” Jenks said.

“It’s all about our community,” Dugan said.

Dugan said Hospice has a special meaning for him because his mother-in-law passed away while receiving hospice care.

“This is not just for the patients, but their families, as well,” Dugan said. “There’s not a person in the community who hasn’t been touched or influenced by Supportive Care.”

Dugan and Jenks said the Elks wanted to bring awareness of Supportive Care and thank them for what they do in the community.

They were overwhelmed at the support for their fundraiser. CVS provided isolation gowns and Wegmans donated a $200 gift card.

The Elks charged $12 for a car wash, and one customer gave them $60 and told them to keep the change. Another car drove up and handed them $50 and drove off. One women paid for her car wash and then said she was going home to get her husband’s truck, which she did.

“The most rewarding part was hearing people talk about the value Hospice gives to patients and families,” Dugan said.

The Elks plan to make the benefit car wash an annual event.