Washing ‘Carros’ and Having Fun

By Eli Locke

Sentry Staff Reporter

The Spanish word for car wash, like in English, is a compound word: ‘lavacarros’. Lava comes from the verb lavar, to wash, and carro means car (obviously). Last month, on Saturday, April 26, from 9 AM to 3 PM, the Spanish department held a car wash at the Shell gas station on Lee Highway.

According to Advanced Placement Spanish Language and Culture teacher Evan Glasier, who ran the car wash, $409 was collected and roughly 30 cars were washed. The money was then sent to a school in Bolivia for children with Down’s Syndrome.

“We go through an organization that [Spanish 4 teacher Elva] Verastegui is a part of with women in Bolivia who help out with different causes back there…we get letters of thanks [from the school in Bolivia] every year we have done it,” said Glasier.

This is the third year running in which the Spanish department has held the car wash. When asked about memorable moments over the years, Glasier noted that one year, a female student wearing a bikini who was advertising the wash on the median of Lee Highway next to the gas station generated enough interest to raise a whopping $850, more than double this year’s total.

“I feel like for the Spanish Honors Club, it’s kind of a good team-building thing..it’s just nice to do something- people tend to give more when you’re not keeping the money for your own club and giving it away to charity- some people give us money without even getting their car washed,” said Glasier.

Another way that Glasier and the Spanish department generate additional interest for the car wash is by sponsoring the event through the school’s National Honor Society, which not only brings in more volunteers but also helps to get the word out around the school as well.

The email sent out to all NHS members a few days before the event read: “No, you don’t only wash Spanish cars. No you don’t need to speak Spanish to wash cars. Yes, you can get sponsored hours for this event organized by the Spanish Honors Club.”

As for why Glasier chooses to run a car wash, he noted that more money is usually made at car washes than other events like bake sales. Similarly, car washes only necessitate signs, soap and water- inexpensive materials that either students can bring or that may be left over from years past. Glasier also enjoys the team building aspect of the car wash and as well as having fun while helping a noble cause.

However, the future of not only the Spanish Honors car wash but car washes in general by all Arlington organizations hang in the balance. According to Glasier and other teachers, after the torrential downpour during the last week of April, the county experienced significant trouble handling the storm water run off alone, not to mention residue from the car wash. In the near future, Glasier may move the car wash to Falls Church to bypass the new regulation.

Despite these complications for the future, it is no understatement that this year’s Spanish Honors car wash to benefit Bolivian children was certainly a success.

Story continues below advertisement
Leave a comment
More to Discover

Comments (0)

All Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *