Car washes are temporarily banned from Fountain Valley High School as a result of the current drought that California is under.
According to Josh Lamar, Assistant Principal of Activities, concerned citizens called the city council of Fountain Valley and shared their concern about how wasteful car washes are, and that student shouldn’t hold car washes while the drought is on.
After receiving a call from the city council, Lamar met with Principal Chris Herzfeld and the other assistant principals in order to discuss this situation.
Instead of car washes, it is suggested that students fundraise using other means, such as dine-outs. Less effort would be needed by students and parents during these events, and school related organizations would still be able to make profit.
However, if students still want to do car washes, they can make arrangements with a drive-through car wash in an area off campus. As a result, the water used during the car wash would be recycled instead of traditional car washes, where the water would flow down the streets.
Lamar said, “I don’t know the exact number, but there’s probably at least 15 or 20 car washes a year that we have and it doesn’t mean that the car wash fundraiser concept goes away, it just means we’re not going to do it [in FVHS].”
Despite this ban on car washes, some club representatives believe that this ban will not affect them as they still have other ways of fundraising.
“She’s the First is linked to a non-profit organization that holds countrywide events to fundraise. Annual fundraisers consist of an annual cupcake bake sale, girls awareness program, and a 5k. Because of the events already planned out, no [the ban on car washes] would not [affect us],” said co-president of She’s the First, Trang Truong (16’).
Other clubs that do have car washes also agree, as they are still able to have car washes in any place other than FVHS.
“Well, we don’t usually do car washes, and the only time we did them was not in FVHS, so I don’t think [the ban] will affect our club,” Leandra Doan (16’), secretary of Make-A-Wish, said.
