Adrienne's Angels Car wash'

Kyle Heredia, 12, waved a color picture of his slain nephews and sister-in-law at passers-by urging them to pull into a car wash at the corner of 8th Street and 4th Avenue on Tuesday.

His two best friends, David Molina and Braden Easly, stood at his side with large white cardboard signs, which said in black capital letters, "Adrienne's Angels Car wash."

"My friends don't even have to come out," Heredia said. "They choose to help me. It makes me feel good that I have true friends like that."

The boys were among more than 20 people who volunteered to wash cars as a way to raise money for the funerals of Adrienne Heredia, Andreas Crawford, Enrique Bedoya, Inez Newman and Danny Heredia III at Frank's Custom Wheels, 816 S. 4th Ave.

Heredia said the car wash has helped him not think about the murders that occurred Friday night. Instead he said he can concentrate on doing something to help.

"The sorrys' and apologies make us feel better. Weird how our small community could come together from one incident," Heredia said.

Tracy Ortiz, who said Adrienne Heredia was her best friend, helped organize the fundraiser. She said she has tried to keep busy "cause every time you stop it's like a reoccurring nightmare."

Sabrina and Carlos Aguiar were also out washing cars Tuesday morning. They said they were close friends with Adrienne Heredia and they want to do something to help.

"We're coping as best as we can. We miss them a lot. There are not enough words to explain," Carlos Aguiar said.

Joseph Aguiar, 14, said he was good friends with the family. He said the murders have had a profound impact on him.

"It's sad knowing. It makes you feel worried. I can't sleep at night sometimes. I worry that it could happen to me - you just never know," he said.

Many of the drivers got out of their cars and spoke with family members or just looked on as their cars were cleaned. Yuma Fire Department Capt. Jeff Zahn said he had just gotten off work when he saw three

children waving their signs.

"I was driving by and saw the car wash and thought I'd make a donation," he said. "What happened was such a tragedy, I figured this would be my way to stop and contribute."

Yuma resident Ed Witherite also had his car cleaned. "I want to help out," he said.

James Beichler, a Yuma resident, brought both of his cars to the car wash. He said that this is a time when the community needs "to pitch in and help this family out."

"By people pitching in it shows that the community cares and there's hope for the community. It pulls the community together," Beichler said.