Employees of Doctors Hospital of Augusta will get a free car wash in April due to the giving nature of two local siblings.
Bo Chavous and Donna Johnikin cannot stop giving back to the community. Johnikin, owner of Clover Leaf Catering, located at 4015 Washington Rd, provides holiday meals for families. Last year, when COVID-19 raged through the CSRA like wildfire, she and her brother Bo, brought food to every hospital in the area. They fed every employee on every shift, he said.
“If I find that somebody has a need, I try to help them in any way that I can,” Johnikin said, but humbly added that she only provided the kitchen and some of the food. “Donations were made to help purchase food, so it wasn’t 100% me.”
Every spring they feed approximately 225 military spouses at Fort Gordon. They have donated food for child enrichment training as well.
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The brother and sister team eagerly look for ways they can help people. She credits Bo with the charitable ideas.
“He has a heart that is bigger than his body,” she said of her brother who is retired from the Richmond County Sherriff’s Department.
Public service runs in the family. Their dad, Captain Donnie Chavous worked with the Richmond County Sherriff’s office for 43 years. Their brother Kelly Chavous works for the Burke County Fire Department.
“The community is a big part of us,” Johnikin said.
Bo is organizing a free carwash for all Doctors Hospital of Augusta employees. The car wash will take place April 2, weather permitting, at Allegiance Ink, 4387 Ridge Trail Rd. Every employee from doctors and nurses to custodians and kitchen staff will get a ticket for a detailed outside wash at no cost.
“All they have to do is show up, turn in their ticket and get a free car wash,” Bo said.
Multiple businesses are participating in the event, donating their washing services, cleaning supplies and equipment. They will all include an item to be placed in swag bags that are given to the car wash recipients. Bo said he randomly chose Doctors Hospital’s essential workers to benefit this time.
“There is nothing better than riding around in a clean car,” he said. “It makes you feel better and I am sure they do not have much time to take care of themselves since they are taking care of our community.”
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Bo said he appreciates everything the hospital employees do and wants to recognize the hard work they are investing during COVID-19 times. He admires their devotion to dealing with the pandemic.
“It’s a really hard time for everybody right now and we know how hard they are working,” he said. “We just wanted to do a little bit to brighten up their day.”
Johnikin said she loves giving back especially when she feels so blessed. It looked like it would be a tough time for the catering business after COVID-19 inspired cancellations of large events, especially events connected to the Masters Tournament.
“We lost a lot of income for last year because of COVID,” she said but pointed out that some of the loss was balanced out by groups ordering food for dine-in that would have normally dined out.
“I really feel blessed that our doors are still open,” she said.
Although the brother and sister typically partner up in doing good deeds, Bo might have to tackle the car wash without his sister’s help.
“I will do whatever I can to help them,” she said and laughed. “I am not so good at washing cars. I don’t wash my own.”
The duo has nothing planned after the car wash, but that is not likely to be the case for long.
“There will be something I am sure,” Johnikin said.
Businesses desiring to get involved in the car wash may contact Bo Chavous via Facebook.
Shellie Smitley is a staff writer for The Augusta Press. Reach her at shellie@theaugustapress.com
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