Cool Down at Red Cross Car Wash Saturday

With the sun relentlessly beating down during recent sweltering days, cool offs are needed to maintain sanity. On Saturday, the Ridgewood American Red Cross Youth Council will wash away the heat with its first annual summer car wash. 

Youth Council President Jason Choi is helping coordinate the August 7 fundraiser to benefit Northern New Jersey Red Cross chapters..

"Why not get your car washed and help people at the same time?" Choi asked.

Car washes aren't new to the Ridgewood Red Cross but the summer event is. The Youth Council—comprised of teens throughout Bergen County—sees its member participation dip in the summer, but Choi said the car wash is a good way for people to remain active.

"We have full boat in year but only a few people now... Several times in the past we've been able to raise a good deal of money from car washes," Choi said.

A senior at the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack and an Upper Saddle River resident, Choi said his sister—a former Youth Council treasurer—got him involved in the Ridgewood Red Cross his freshman of high school.

"I have stayed involved not only because of the great relationships, but we have helped the community greatly," he said

Over the past two years, the Youth Council has raised $12,000 for the Red Cross. Those funds have helped local disaster victims, especially—Choi said—people who were without power during the March blackout.

"Since being here, I've been able to appreciate the value of the Red Cross to the community," he said.

Although youth volunteers don't work directly in the field during disasters, Choi said teens are very involved.

"The main reason to get youth to join is to raise awareness for others. It's a common misconception that the Red Cross is full of adults, but they want to expose us to a lot of the same experiences," Choi said.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, residents can stop by the Godwin Avenue facility for a free car wash. Residents are asked to submit donations, but there is no obligation, Choi said.

Music and other activities will also be there. For more information on the Youth Council summer car wash, click here. A rain date is scheduled for August 14.