Hanford school programs ditch car washes for technology to fundraise amid drought

HANFORD, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Valley school district is getting creative with their fundraising efforts and conserving water at the same time. A ban on high school car washes has some programs turning toward technology.

Car washes were once a drop in the bucket for high school boosters, but for the Hanford High School Bullpups, they're now a thing of the past.

"It becomes a very easy decision knowing that water is becoming more scarce, and the cost of water is going up, why are we letting hoses run in the street for a couple of dollars for a fundraiser?" Hanford High School Principal Scott Pickle said.

They haven't held car washes for years -- at least not in the three since Pickle has been principal. And they already started what the governor is just now suggesting -- they've let the lawns go.

"We're getting down to the basic level where we're only watering essential areas; water use during the day is limited," said Pickle.

And then there's the fundraising. The band and sports team carefully coordinate so as not to compete for opportunities. They use firework stands and website-driven campaigns.

But just recently, the Hanford High football team took it a step further. Varsity head coach Josh Young says now team information and fundraising is at your fingertips.

"Kids have their cellphones with them, parents have their cellphones with them, and we want to be able to communicate our message to them, our information to them in the easiest way possible, and we feel the app is one of the best ways to do that," said Young.

The Hanford football app is available now, and Young says soon they'll be using it to drive cash toward their program.

"We can do game sponsors and have links to their businesses as well as our events page. The games could be sponsored by a business in town," said Young.

Conserving every drop and being tech savvy at the same time.