June 17, 2009

Get an oil change on Catholic Day and benefit the ACA

On Business owner offers innovative way to help Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal

By John Gleason

Need an oil change? Tim Urban is inviting everyone to bring their cars out to Catholic Day at his Grease Monkey maintenance shop.  That’s right, Catholic Day.

As the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal continues, the faithful at parishes across northern Colorado continue to open their hearts and give to the ACA, which helps fund numerous ministries in the archdiocese.  Some, like Urban, have gone a step further, coming up with new and innovative ways to raise money for the appeal.

The St. Mary’s parishioner and 7-year firefighter with Littleton Fire Rescue is holding a Catholic Day at the Grease Monkey and Monkey Shine (self-service car wash) he owns and operates.

On June 28, Urban will donate 70 percent of the day’s business—anything from a simple oil change to a transmission flush—to the ACA .  He said the idea sort of presented itself.

“I bought the business last summer,” he explained, “and a few weeks ago when they were talking about the appeal at Mass, I was figuring out how much I’d donate and wondered if there wasn’t another way to make even more of a contribution.  Catholic Day just jumped into my mind.”

Of course, you don’t have to be Catholic to bring your vehicle in for whatever service it might require, but Urban is hoping to get as many people as possible from parishes on the south side of the archdiocese.

“This is a way for all of us to help contribute to the appeal,” he said, “a little preventive maintenance on the car and a chance to donate some funds to the appeal.

“If we still have people waiting at closing time, we’ll give them a rain check,” Urban said.  “I think this could be a great success, especially if we get a lot of parishioners from our area to come by.”

Customers who stop by in the morning on Catholic Day will be treated to free coffee and donuts. Later in the day, Urban will fire up the grill for barbecue.

“A complementary burger, chips and soft drink while you get your car serviced is a nice way to spend the afternoon,” he said. “And not too bad a way to raise money for the Church.”

Catholic Day will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 28 at Grease Monkey and Monkey Shine, 6549 S. Broadway in Littleton.