For some at George Washington University, the holiday gift exchange came early. Parking Services at the Washington, DC, university sponsored Toys-for-Tickets the week of Nov. 14-18. Anyone holding outstanding GW parking citations could pay off the current value of the ticket — including any late payment fees — with new unwrapped toys of equal or greater value. The toys were to be donated to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program and to My Sister’s Place, a domestic violence shelter for women and children.
“This is the first time we’ve done anything like this,” said Larry Cohen, Director of Parking Services. “It’s an opportunity to help those less fortunate.”
His department also unveiled a new full-service auto-detailing and carwash operated out of the lower level of the University Parking Garage. The service, contracted through NAB International, offers the GW community the opportunity to drop off dirty cars in the morning and return at the end of the day to find them sparkling inside and out.
The service is available for daily parkers, as well; however, they will have to pay the University garage’s daily rates in addition to the cost of the service package. Monthly parking permit holders will receive 10 percent off on all services.
The idea stems from a time when Cohen worked at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, which had a similar service for faculty and staff. “It was very successful,” Cohen said. “It was a nice convenient service, and was very well-received by the community.”
