More than a car wash: Working Wolfe Gang shows what students can do

With a hose in hand, Kamari Hall was ready to get to work.

Nearby, he and his classmates moved from car to car, washing vehicles inside and out. Sponges dipped into buckets of soapy water as students scrubbed doors and bumpers, while others used long-handled window brushes to clean the glass.

For Kamari, the role was familiar.

When asked what his favorite part of the car wash was, he quickly had an answer.

“Using the water hose,” he said with a smile.

While many Union County Public Schools students are still enjoying summer break, students at Wolfe School, which operates on a year-round calendar, are already back to learning and serving their community.

Kamari is one of eight students who make up the Working Wolfe Gang, a group led by teacher Megan Miles.

The name Working Wolfe Gang came from the students themselves. After brainstorming several ideas, students and staff voted on the name, which reflected their connection to Wolfe School and their commitment to showing up, working together and serving their community.

During the car wash, Miles, two additional staff members and parent volunteer Mark Weber provided support as needed while students cleaned vehicles and completed each task.

The car wash is just one part of the students’ work in the community. Each Tuesday, the Working Wolfe Gang volunteer at Common Heart Food Pantry, where students help prepare food bags for families.

Working together, students gather items, organize bags and prepare food for distribution.

“In the hour that we’re there, we can usually fill 160 to 200 bags,” Miles said. “They are a well-oiled machine.”

The money earned through the car wash helps fund the students’ weekly lunch outings after volunteering. Two students serve as the group’s secretary and treasurer, giving them opportunities to take on leadership roles within the business.

“It gives them a sense of independence,” Miles said. “They know exactly what they’re going to buy. We talk about their order before we go, how much the item is going to cost and how much change they’re going to get back.”

Over time, the students have built meaningful relationships throughout the community. Employees at local restaurants recognize them by name, and volunteers at Common Heart Food Pantry have become familiar faces who celebrate their accomplishments.

Weber has seen those connections grow firsthand. Weber’s son, Nicholas, is a Wolfe School student preparing to graduate this year, and Weber has volunteered with the Working Wolfe Gang for the past three years, helping students during car wash days.

“It’s great for the kids to see other people outside the school setting,” Weber said. “I’m part of that outside-the-school setting, and I’m not somebody they see every day.”

For Weber, Wolfe School has played an important role in his son’s growth.

“From being here, he’s progressed quite a bit,” Weber said. “Everybody is very hands-on and very generous. Very patient with all the kids, too.”

Weber also believes the students’ involvement helps the community better understand their abilities.

“It helps the community realize that there are students with special needs everywhere,” Weber said. “And that they can do a lot.”

The Working Wolfe Gang continues to find ways to support its community experiences throughout the year. When colder weather slows down the car wash, students create seasonal fundraisers, such as candy grams, to continue earning money for their activities.

For Kamari and his classmates, the Working Wolfe Gang is more than a car wash.

Whether they are washing cars, packing food bags or ordering lunch with money they earned themselves, the students continue to show their community what they can accomplish when given the opportunity.