FGS Toronto
June 9,  2023

On May 28th, Toronto Buddha’s Light Scouts Car Wash Fundraiser was held for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic four years ago. The 6th Meadowvale Scouts (Buddha’s Light Toronto Scouts) eagerly participated with high spirits to raise funds for their fall camping trip. Along with members of the local community - parents, friends, and teaching assistants from the Children’s English Dharma Class -  a total of thirty volunteers washed fifty-four vehicles to accomplish their fundraising goal for Summer camping.

Busy preparations were well underway early on this beautifully breezy morning. The Scouts volunteers first arrived punctually at the Temple’s back parking lot. Besides setting up service booths, they placed roadblocks to make sure fluidity and safety of vehicle travel routes. Eye-catching signs and flyers were posted around the Temple to increase visibility of the event. The Venture Scouts divided into five small groups to delegate tasks at hand and explain the car washing procedures. Every car was washed anew by the well-coordinated team of volunteers!

The strong comeback of the car-washing fundraisers had everyone rolled up their sleeves (photographer: Bo Zhuan)

From 10:00 AM to past tea-time, the car washing crew washed incoming traffic of vehicles non-stop other than short rotating lunch breaks. All of the crews gave the cars a bubble bath treatment before washing the cleansers away. The cheerful laughers were accompanied with tireless perspiration from the beginning to the end. The four friends that Ventures Vice President Kiana invited were delighted to have such a meaningful opportunity to serve the community.

The Ventures helped to dry the washed cars at the car-washing fundraiser. (photographer: Bo Zhuan)

Jada Chau, the event coordinator and Venture President, said that this car-washing fundraiser took the Venture team two months in planning and preparation. They undertook various tasks ranging from poster designs, event promotion, preparing car-washing equipment, setting procedures, to allocation of volunteers. Notably, this successful debut was a brand new experience for most of the Ventures and Scouts involved. Not only did the Scouts meticulously accomplish their mission with adventurous high-spirits, they also put the Three Acts of Goodness and the working principles of the Four Givings into action.

The success of the fundraiser would not be possible without the kind support of the Temple community. Among the donors were Venerables, Temple volunteers, visitors, parents, and Scout mentors. There were also the participants of the North America BLIA-YAD White Elephant Executive Training that deserve an honourable mention. How heartwarming it was that some people went as far as coming out for support and donation without requesting a car wash!

Friends of the Buddha’s Light Scouts were invited to partake in this fundraiser (photographer: Bo Zhuan)

Venerable Ru An, the advisor of the Buddha’s Light Scouts, praised Jada’s leadership and the spirit of collaboration among the Scouts team. She also pointed out room for future improvement as part of the learning curve for the organizing committee. The fruitful car wash fundraiser strengthened the logistic planning skills and confidence of the Scouts team. All the participants went home with a truckload of joy and memories to cherish.

A group photo of the volunteers taken at the end of the event, beaming proudly with the record-breaking achievement of 54 cars washed. (photographer: Cathy Wong)