New Bedford Rowing Center members put down their oars and picked up sponges on Saturday afternoon.

For a $5 donation, members washed cars in the parking lot of the Mattapoisett Fire Department to raise funds for a new building for the center, to be built on Popes Island in New Bedford.

The center provides access to rowing, and its health-related benefits, to people across the South Coast.

Head Coach Cheyenne Bayse said a very generous donation from member Bernard Taradash brought the center close to reaching its goal. Saturday’s car wash was needed to raise the final $5,000.

The club has youth programs for 11 to 18 year olds and caters to adults as well.

“As I like to say, our adult programs are for anyone who 18 years old to ‘awesome,’” Bayse said, adding that the oldest rower is 67 years old.

For more information on the New Bedford Rowing Center, visit www.newbedfordrowing.org.