The national median cost of a funeral is $7,045, according to the National Funeral Directors Association.
That price was too high for one Cleveland, Texas family who is mourning the loss of a cousin who died in his sleep, KHOU.com reported.
The family decided to organize a car wash on Monday in order to raise money to bury cousin Ray Farmer. The sign for the car wash in an Auto Zone parking lot on East Houston Street reads: "CAR WASH DONATIONS FOR FUNERAL EXP.," KHOU.com reported.
Connie Chiado, a member of the family, said the car wash is not for recreational purposes.
"They're standing out there with the signs stating that we're doing this for a funeral. It's not for fun and games. We need to bury my cousin," Chiado told KHOU.com.
"We're not rich people," Chiado added. "We flip burgers for a living. We work on cars for a living."
Farmer's cause of death is not yet known. Shana, Farmer's wife of 22 years, told KHOU.com that she woke up Saturday morning to find her husband dead.
"I can't even believe it's happening," Shana said.
Farmer, who was on disability, leaves behind three children and one grandchild, KHOU.com reported.
At first Farmer's family only did the car wash to raise money. They then began selling BBQ on Tuesday.
"There's over $1,300 in two days," Betty Waller, Farmer's aunt, told KHOU.com
As of Thursday the family raised $2,000 out of the $9,000 they need for the funeral.
Others stopped by the car wash to help the family. One man, Shawn Grady, helped out even though he never met Farmer or his family.
"I have a friend that actually passed Valentine's Day, two to three days ago now and it hit a little close to home," Grady told KHOU.com.
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