Victory Outreach Car Wash Back In Business

After spending recent days chopping wood and carting off storm debris in the Foothills, five members of Victory Outreach of Spokane are back scrubbing dirty cars - for as long as the weather holds up.

It had been quite a while since the group waved towels to attract dirty cars to their outdoor car wash next to Evergreen Lighting, 13504 E. Sprague.

With all the snow and ice slicking up the store’s parking lot, it was impossible to run their by-donation-only business, said car washer John Chavez.

But as soon as the snow melted and the pavement was visible, the men were again lathering cars, trucks and minivans until crusted winter grime turned into a brilliant new-car shine.

“But it sure is cold,” said Chavez. The men - Gary Cooper, Joe Sambrano, Jose Morales and Ephraim Gonzalez - each had red, red hands from the cold water and cold air.

“I blow into them a lot,” said Gonzalez. Others shove their palms into warm coat pockets, their cuffs damp.

The men live together in Spokane as part of Victory Outreach’s ministry for those fleeing gangs and drugs. Chavez said they work, pray and play together.

“Out here, together, we learn how to deal with life,” he said. “We get back what was once lost - life and love.”

All that, and a car wash, too.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo