Car wash raises $200 for struggling students seeking child care servicesBy: Joe Ray
– Online Editor –
Andrea Royals
– News Editor –
A black Ford pickup truck pulled into STLCC-Meramec’s parking lot on April 17 to get a scrub down at a car wash fundraiser. The event was held by student parents to raise money for those struggling to find proper child
care services. The door of the truck opened as Bob Nelson, former board of trustees member, stepped out to get his pickup washed with a donation in hand.
Nelson is one of four trustees who voted to end the child care services at the Meramec and Forest Park campuses last December. Nelson said he believes his vote on the decision does not reflect how he feels about child care services.
“I absolutely still support the parents and I never did not support them. My vote was an economic situation when I realized what the college is going to face in the future with a drastic reduction from state funds in the years 2011 and 2012,” Nelson said.
Despite the negative response he received after the decision, which he believes cost him the April 6 election, Nelson said he supports child care services only when the college is able to afford it and that he would not reverse his opinion.“I am not opposed to child care. If they had a car wash every week, I’d donate every week,” Nelson said.
Nelson was one of several passersby, including a few faculty and staff members who stopped to have their car washed at the fundraiser held to raise donations for eight families that are struggling to find child care services for their children.
The Meramec Campus Police Department also made a donation toward child care services and had two of the patrol cruisers washed before the event ended.
“I think we had a great turnout today for the car wash,” said Michelle Duerlinger, a student and parent who organized the event. “We have had at least 20 cars come through.”
Many generous community members who were leaving the Children’s Festival that was held on campus the same day stopped by the fundraiser and gave donations without even getting their car washed.
Duerlinger said the goal of the car wash was to raise $1,000 in donations, but were short of their goal, raising approximately $200.
A few parents brought their children to help wash cars to show that the main purpose of the fundraiser was for them. Students, parents and children lined the sidewalk with posters in an attempt to get the attention of people driving. One poster advertised the car wash with the words, “Save R School,” and another reading, “We love our school!”
Said student and mother Ann Kinkendeall, “We are doing this for the children.”
