Wolfeboro "Detail Mafia" helps Air Force family

WOLFEBORO — Wolfeboro Car Wash & Executive Detail owner Andrew Swenson joins two of the East Coast contingent of the Detail Mafia on Dec. 29 to surprise U.S. Air Force SMSgt Tim McAlister, his wife Amanda, and 12-year-old son, Jeff, with a revitalization of the family vehicle. They will then load it with Christmas gifts donated by the Yarmouth community. Although the McAlister family knows the Detail Mafia will be cleaning their vehicle, they do not know they are the recipients of a charity gift drive designed to help an active duty military family who are either struggling financially, or need help this Holiday Season. The effort is the second annual Operation Sleigh Shine, founded last year by Detail Mafia member Scott Macha of Total Eclipse Auto Detailing in Yarmouth.

Swenson will be also joined by “Dirty Harry” Sandwith of Dirty Harry’s Detailing in Rochelle Park, New Jersey. The three-man team will give the McAlister family vehicle a complete interior and exterior detail beginning with a hand wash and dry; a tire and wheel shine; clay bar to clean the contaminants from the paint; and a stage one paint correction to remove any oxidation, fine scratches, and flaws in the paint. The interior will get a European steam clean of the hard plastics and upholstery; a carpet shampoo to remove any stains or odor-causing bacteria; and an application of Glassparency, which will promise streak-free glass for up to three years. They will finish the car off with a durable, exterior protective ceramic coating to preserve the shine for up to two years. The goal is to get the aging vehicle shining like it did when it was new. Yarmouth and the surrounding community has been donating new and lightly used gifts to the family, which unknown to Sgt. McAlister and his family, will be loaded into the shining new “sleigh.”

“We have to do something for our families paying the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country,” said Macha. “SMSgt Tim McAlister was recommended to us this year by his master sergeant, who says that in spite of not having a lot of assets for himself, is always giving to and helping others.”

“I see it as a way to say ‘Thank You’ to military families who are often called to dangerous parts of the world during the holiday season, putting a financial and emotional strain on the family, especially children,” said Swenson. “This is the kind of work the Detail Mafia was set up to do and what we, as a brotherhood of detailers, do best!”

Swenson is a member of the Air Force One Detailing Team and a longtime member, and now board of directors member, for Detailing Success’ Detail Mafia. “Made-Men” of the Detail Mafia have proven themselves leaders and mentors, and they famously cross state lines to come to the need of other Mafia members who need help in their communities. Most of these projects are performed for free and have included cleaning emergency vehicles after natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy and Harvey; restoring historic airplanes and fire engines for museums; and coming to the needs of law enforcement, Gold Star families, military veterans, and active duty military personnel, like Operation Sleigh Shine.

U.S. Air Force SMSgt Tim McAlister, his wife, Amanda, and 12-year-old son, Jeff, will be receiving some holiday help from the "Detail Mafia" on Dec. 29, thanks to Wolfeboro Car Wash & Executive Detail owner Andrew Swenson. (Courtesy photo)