Lakewood YMCA receives donation from Lakewood Car Wash

(Cont'd. from Pg. 1) back to our community."

Mario Vargas, Executive Director of the Lakewood Family YMCA, said that he's looking forward to the new partnership.

"We're very excited to build this partnership between the Chamber and the Lakewood Car Wash to help our families, who otherwise would not have access to the YMCA," Vargas said. "This donation will help with licensed child care, our gymnastics program, our daycamp program, our sports programs, and toward teaching kids how to swim."

The funds will also be used for teens and senior citizens programs at the YMCA.

As a reminder to the Lakewood community, Solache said, "Sometimes you don't realize but when you support your local businesses, you are supporting your community," he added. "When you support local businesses, your contribution helps community partnerships like this one between the YMCA and the Lakewood Car Wash. These are the types of partnerships that help our community."

Shakouri, who is celebrating the Lakewood Car Wash's 10th year anniversary in Lakewood this year, believes in supporting community organizations and youth programs. Every month, Shakouri dedicates part of his proceeds to local organizations and youth programs in the City of Lakewood.

The Lakewood Car Wash has been a member of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce for 10 years now. As a small business, said Shakouri, it has always been important to him and to his family to be connected and involved in the community.

"When your community supports you, you have to turn around and support your community," said Shakouri. "We are happy to be a part of this community and are very grateful for the support that we have received over the years."

Building partnerships between local businesses and organizations like the YMCA, and/or local service clubs, is part of what the Chamber does, said Solache.

"The Chamber is here to empower the community, and to build bridges between businesses and the community that they're serving," he added. "Afterall, we are stronger when we work together and support eachother."

Creative kids and adults can submit designs.

Submit your patriotic postcard design

In celebration of 10 years of Lakewood’s ‘Thank a Servicemember’ program collecting greetings and well-wishes to U.S. military personnel stationed overseas during the holidays, the city is inviting residents of all ages to show their patriotism and city pride by submitting a design for this year’s postcard.

To enter the contest, download a template with size specifications to create your design, take a photo of your art and upload it to the online form before Aug. 11.

Get the link to the form and details at www.lakewoodcity. org/TASPostcardContest.

The city will select five designs to showcase on different versions of the commemorative postcards distributed this fall when the Thank a Servicemember campaign launches on Sept. 11.

The Thank a Servicemember annual campaign provides free postcards for residents to write messages of thanks to servicemembers and collects them through December, along with handwritten letters and drawings. All greetings are sent to the nonprofit organization Operation Gratitude for delivery with care packages to U.S. servicemembers overseas.