There has always been a special place in my heart for organizations or businesses that engage,…read morementor and hire people who have struggled in their lives or needed someone to give them a helping hand.
When I was the Executive Director of the Community Theatre of Greensboro, we worked very closely with Delancey Street. This organization works closely with drug addicted men and helped them with their recovery. As a way to support the organization and put a few dollars in their pocket, Delancey Street offered moving services. We hired them whenever possible for moving gigs, but the greatest pleasure of all was giving them a block of tickets to attend one of our productions. After what they had been through personally, socially, financially and emotionally, I could always feel their great sense of pride and Joy when all these guys showed up at the theater dressed in a nice pair of slacks and shirt, feeling like they belonged. Feeling like they too can enjoy the better things in life. Feeling empowered and hopeful. Many of them had never seen a play or musical before, but you could see the absolute joy and awe on all their faces as they took in what was happening on the stage. Delancey Street is an organization worth supporting!
I remember when I was in Kenya, part of my tour was spending a day or two at the East African Mission Orphanage. A marvelous couple from Australia had started a small community of orphans, and over the years have built an incredible refuge and home for so many children in East Africa who are homeless. There they get an education, housing, food, friendship and love. In turn, the children and teenagers welcome tourists, spend quality time with them and also have chores and responsibilities as part of the orphanage community. This is an extraordinary organization worth supporting!
So it's no wonder that as I kept passing by the Malachi House II Hand Car Wash on Wendover avenue / Burlington Road every Monday and Wednesday on my way back and forth to Elon to teach, I wondered what kind of car wash this was. Turns out it's connected to the Malachi House II, a faith based drug rehabilitation program and facility that works with men for full recovery from drug addiction and counsels and guides them to stay drug free, finish their education, find a place to live and a job and live an enriching and meaningful life. Many of them work at this car wash to support the program and put a few dollars in their own pocket.
So last week I decided to give it a shot and I was so glad I did. Only $15! The guys are very friendly and thorough. You have to be prepared to give yourself a little time because this is not your typical machine drive through or the guys that wipe you down for 2 minutes. These guys want to make it right and to take their time. Conveniently located on East Wendover/ Burlington Road, you can't miss it. Once they took over my car, I sat down on the side to see how this all works. I noticed several men in folding chairs enjoying chatting and visiting along with the workers. Seemed like they were all friends which was nice to see. Everything is done by hand. You're not driving through some mechanical shower with rubberized soapy strips slapping against the side of your car. Your car is vacuumed and rinsed and soaked and washed and dried all by hand! That's the way I like it! You have the option to tip the guys personally, but there were so many of them that I decided to leave a nice tip in the jar inside and let them split later. It is good to consider a tip when you go here because I have a feeling that goes directly to the guys working
As I sat there and watched these gentlemen working hard and struggling and aspiring to be drug-free and live a more "normal life", I could not help but think about people in my world who complain about their current situation or their struggles. With what's happening in the world today and knowing what these men at Malachi House II are going through, if you have a job, your bills are paid, you're in good health and you can find toilet paper at the grocery store, you are in great shape! Thank God and be grateful that your world is not driven by when and how you are going to get your drug fix today. And when you have a few dollars in your pocket to donate, think about Malachi House II, or better yet, head to their hand car wash on Wendover Avenue/ Burlington Road when your car is dirty, and not only get a great car wash, but feel good about where that money goes for both the washing and the tip for those who serviced you! Count your blessings!!
