‘Thank you, Palm Coast’: Locals donate and assist at car wash for Betsy Smith, mother of Kelvin, who was killed in hit-and-run crash

Smith’s family raised over $1,100 on just Saturday’s car wash fundraiser to help pay funeral expenses for Kelvin Smith.

By Jeff Dawsey
| 6:00 p.m. January 17, 2017

Betsy Smith, Yumeka and Yumalik Carey, LaTasha Vilomar, Ja-yanla Robinson, Tyrel Schultz, Jahzara smith, Z' niya Vilomar, Antonio Rivera, Christine Kraus and Savannah, Enrique Vilomar, and Ivette Moux Photo by Jeff Dawsey

Kelvin' s best friend, Enrique Vilomar, likened him to a "big teddy bear that everyone liked."

Kelvin and Betsy Smith Courtesy photo

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

Betsy Smith spent her weekend smiling, thanks to the local community. According to family friend Anthony Vilomar, Smith she hasn’t beamed much, ever since her son, Kelvin, 16, was killed in a hit-and-run crash on New Year’s Eve on Old Kings Road.

In an effort to help pay for funeral expenses, Vilomar, owner of Elegant Shine Auto Detailing and father of Kelvin’s best friend, Enrique, helped put together a car wash fundraiser on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 14-15, at VFW Post No. 8696.

Members of the community flocked to the car wash to donate, and many even helped wash cars, wave signs, and pass out food. Company owners and workers from Maye’s Car Wash, Smoothie King, The Wax Guys and Elegant Shine Auto Detailing, Bedtops

"He as like a big teddy bear that everyone liked."
ENRIQUE VILOMAR, describing his best friend, the late Kelvin Smith

Mattress, Froggy’s Saloon and more either donated or provided services to benefit the fundraiser.

“Kelvin and Ricky rode bikes all the time down Old Kings,” Vilomar said. “That could’ve been my son, and I know Kelvin would’ve been here to help my family.”

Overwhelmed by the community’s outpouring of support, Betsy Smith said, “We’ve only been living here for five months. I didn’t expect such a great turnout, but I’m very grateful.”

Smith never imagined she would have to bury any of her children. Nothing, she says, has ever been tougher to endure, and she was reminded of that on Friday, when she had to drive pass the site where Kelvin was killed.

“It just tore me up,” she said, “because that was the first time I’ve ever been near the site.”

According to Enrique Vilomar, he and Kelvin shared eccentric personalities that generated their friendship. While often identified as outsiders, they still managed to make friends with everyone. He said Kelvin just possessed that kind of nature.

“He made me laugh every day,” Vilomar said. “When I would get down, he always picked me up. He was like this big teddy bear that everyone liked.

“To know Kelvin was to love him,” Betsy Smith added.