Skip to content

Car wash helps financially strapped Langley families this Christmas

Cool weather kept a wet fundraiser from seeing its optimum participation, organizers explained.
web1_carwash2C
A dozen Murrayville businesses rallied together Saturday to wash cars and raise money to help struggling families at Christmastime. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance)

A group of business owners from Langley held a car wash this weekend that netted $750 for local families in need.

Those funds will be used to sponsor at least two families at Christmastime, said Rainer Schmoll, car wash hose commander and a founding member of the Think Referrals Business Network (TRBN).

“There were quite a few less cars this year, the weather was not as nice either,” Schmoll said of this weekend’s fundraiser.

That said, he added, “we are happy with the results this year, every little bit helps us sponsor more families.”

TRBN is comprised of business owners who meet weekly in one of 13 local chapters throughout the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland.

Not only do they support each other through business referrals and camaraderie, but each chapter raises money annually for the Think Generously Society. And in turn, Think Generously gives to families in need – usually connecting with many of those families through the lcoal Christmas bureaus.

Each year, they try to raise enough to sponsr a minimum of two families per chapter, Schmoll said. Last Christmas, the entire TRBN sponsored 22 families throughout the Lower Mainland.

TRBN Murrayville chapter has held one such car wash in past, he explained, noting it was during a water restriction but still managed to raise $1,100.

Locally, they also generate money for the cause through the Fort Langley TRBN chapter, holding a Christmas market among other fundraisers.

The next TRBN fundraiser in Langley is a golf tournament at Tall Timbers on July 28. The cost is $65 (early-bird rate until July 15), which includes golf, cart, and steak dinner.

“Small business owners survive on support from local consumers and they want to give back in some way. Through our not-for-profit arm – Think Generously – we provide business owners a way to give back to the same community that supports them,” Schmoll said.

The Murrayville TRBN chapter, which hosted the car wash, has given to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Langley in past and is looking for another Langley-based charity to support, said Scott Waddle, owner of Precision and a president of the Murrayville TRBN chapter.

“We try to provide fun events for Langley residents to participate in,” he said. “This is just one of many. We have our upcoming annual golf tournament, we have a variety of other events coming throughout the year.”

For more information, people can visit the TRBN website.

web1_carwash4C
A dozen Murrayville businesses rallied together Saturday to wash cars and raise money to help struggling families at Christmastime. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance)
web1_carwash5C
A dozen Murrayville businesses rallied together Saturday to wash cars and raise money to help struggling families at Christmastime. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance)
web1_carwash3C
A dozen Murrayville businesses rallied together Saturday to wash cars and raise money to help struggling families at Christmastime. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance)
web1_carwash1C
A dozen Murrayville businesses rallied together Saturday to wash cars and raise money to help struggling families at Christmastime. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance)
web1_carwash7C
A dozen Murrayville businesses rallied together Saturday to wash cars and raise money to help struggling families at Christmastime. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance)
web1_carwash8C
A dozen Murrayville businesses rallied together Saturday to wash cars and raise money to help struggling families at Christmastime. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance)


Roxanne Hooper

About the Author: Roxanne Hooper

I began in the news industry at age 15, but honestly, I knew I wanted to be a community journalist even before that.
Read more