“Men’s Club” hosts car wash to get to Cubs game
The newly formed “Men’s Club” at a South Bend nursing home wants to go to a South Bend Cubs game, so they hosted a car wash Monday for donations.
“Come on in!” shouted Archie Robinson, who sat in his wheelchair along Lasalle Avenue holding a poster.
“We trying to get donations to go to ball games and outings,” he said.
With scrubs of a sponge and waves of their hands, the “Men’s Club” at Cardinal Nursing and Rehabilitation in South Bend hosted their first-ever car wash Monday afternoon.
“We can get together,” said Manuel Roidfeld, one of the club’s members. “More friendship.”
The quirky group of classy gents decided to host the event as a kickoff to their new organization.
You were able to pull up to the nursing home on Monday and get your car washed by hand, for free, by a group of gentlemen – some in wheelchairs, some with walkers, and some with canes.
All the “Men’s Club” asked for was a donation toward their dream of attending a South Bend Cubs game.
“One of our residents would like to throw out the first pitch, so we’re starting to get all of that formulated and together, as well as making t-shirts,” said Melvin Freels, the admissions and marking director at the home.
Phil Clark is the club’s president.
“Washing the cars” was his favorite part of the event, he said, while sitting in his wheelchair next to one of his customer’s vehicles. “It’s a long time since I’ve been able to do that.”
He, like all the club’s members, came up with the idea of attending a ballgame on their own.
The staff at Cardinal said this is their latest experiment at making this nursing home a true home.
“If we can help in making their life as enjoyable as possible, that’s what we’re here for,” said Freels.
The ladies of Cardinal got some sunscreen and watched from nearby Monday afternoon.
Car after car. Wash after wash.
Robinson explained why the “Men’s Club” decided on a baseball game.
“Cause it’s summertime and all the men like baseball,” he said.
If they raise enough money, the South Bend Cubs game will be the club’s first outing.
Clark said they hope to have one each month.
The staff at Cardinal is trying to set up a way for you to donate online to the club, when events like Monday’s car wash are not taking place.
In the meantime, the guys are looking forward to getting a pool table and a card table for their home.
And Clark is working on designing official “Men’s Club” t-shirts.