MANVILLE: Rescue squad car wash to fund HQ improvements

By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
   Members of the Manville First Aid & Rescue Squad will put their hands together for their own cause Sunday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. as they sponsor a car wash in the parking lot of the Rescue Squad building on South Third Avenue.
   Squad 1st Lt. Robyn Barb said, “Every fundraiser that we do is for equipment. We also did some changes to the building and we are trying to build sleeping quarters so a crew can stay overnight, if they need to, to get the ambulance out on the scene quicker.”
   Last year the squad’s injury backboards were updated and work was needed after the squad building was flooded after Hurricane Irene hit last August.
   ”We are doing it (the car wash) on Sept. 9th because two years ago we did it on Sept. 11, which was a Saturday, and we did very well. I guess the public was very receptive for EMS that particular day. We made about $1,400 and that was pretty good for a couple of hours.
   ”I am trying to make this an annual event in September and the first year we did excellent. The second year we got flooded and no one was thinking about getting their car washed,” Ms. Barb said.
   The rain date is Sunday, Sept. 16, from 9-2.
   The cost is $5 for cars and $8 for trucks and it will be sort of a drive-through with stations of wet down, washing, rinse and drying.
   Donations of buckets, sponges, soap, drying towels would be appreciated and could be dropped off Saturday at the squad building or the VFW on Washington Avenue, where the auxiliary is holding its semiannual flea market from 9-2. Monetary donations will also be accepted at either location.
   Visit www.manvillerescuesquad.org to make a donation, learn about becoming a member or just to see what they are doing.