It was already hot but a handful of police officers from Ceres and Modesto police departments and a deputy from the Sheriff’s Department busted a sweat vacuuming out cars to raise money for Special Olympics last week.

The crew of officers turned out at the Gateway Car Wash on Service Road Wednesday, May 22 to provide extra service to full service car wash customers from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Joe Samra, manager of Gateway Car Wash, approached Vice Mayor Bret Silveira with the idea of supporting a local charity. Silveira recommended talking to Ceres Police Lt. Jeff Godfrey serves on the Executive Committee of the Special Olympics of Northern California.

In addition to donating a substantial portion of the sales of car washes to Special Olympics, Gateway offered free washes that day for first-responders and military personnel. Depending on what was raised, Samra said the business would make up the difference with an in-kind donation.

“We’re one of the few car washes that is locally owned and operated,” said Samra. He added that his station has more features than the “cookie cutter” car washes, including a longer tunnel with double the equipment and drying towels that spin around. Hand washes are also offered.

The primary fundraiser for Special Olympics is the police torch run, which involves approximately 200 police agencies and 2,600 officers running in Northern California. The local run is coming up on Tuesday, June 25. Officers will start their three-mile run from the Ceres Community Center, north on Fourth Street, east on Whitmore Avenue to northbound Moffet Road, east on Fowler Avenue and south on Mitchell Road and back to the station.

Anyone may donate specifically to the Ceres Police Department’s Special Olympics Torch Run team at www.sonc.org