Time to wake up

The sun was shining brightly on East Meadow as “Wake Up To Awareness,” also known as “Wake Up, East Meadow,” held its first annual car wash at the East Meadow Fire Department on Aug. 19.

The organization, which started with a viral Facebook page, arose on April 9 when Renato Manaloto, 22, and Giovanni Fuentes, 24, became frustrated by yet another online memorial dedicated to a local resident who had died of a drug overdose. The twosome also recruited Amanda Louisa, 22, within days and have been working to create awareness ever since.

The car wash, held in partnership with the Youth Advisory Board of Long Island Counsel on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the fire department, helped raise about $1,500 for the nonprofit and spread information.

The event garnered attention from passersby, but traffic was limited after the event was moved from Saturday to Sunday due to rain. “I think the turn out would have been better if we held the event on the planned date,” said Louisa, “but . . . overall the event went amazing. We had a lot of fun. Everyone was able to eat some good food, listen to some great music and get their cars washed.”

While some friends scrubbed bumpers, others cooled off in the dunk tank or shared information with neighbors who dropped by. “Between our organization and the Youth Advisory Board, we were able to get out a lot of important information to the public, which was our overall goal,” said Louisa.

The group also distributed colorful wristbands and sunglasses to remind young kids the dangers of drug use and promote a dialogue within the community.

The next “Wake Up To Awareness” fundraising event will be held on Sept. 15 at RC Dugans where an entrance fee will cover dinner, drinks, a DJ and Chinese raffle with prizes that include a trip to Las Vegas, tickets to sporting events and gift cards to local stores.

To stay up to date, visit the “Wake Up, East Meadow” Facebook page.