GREEN BAY (NBC 26) — While having clean clothes may be something that many of us take for granted, it's an expense that's unaffordable for many people who are struggling financially. Volunteers at Laundry Love believe that having clean clothes is something everyone deserves.
“We don’t like to see anyone with dirty clothes. A lot of times you’ll see that kids may be bullied with dirty clothes or families that need clean bedding,” said volunteer Jean Vandenlangenberg.
That’s why three times a month, the non-profit partners with local laundromats to hold free laundry washing events for neighbors in need. Laundry Love is a nationwide initiative, with over 30,000 laundromats across the country. Nationwide, the non-profit has paid for 2 million loads of laundry and served over 1 million people since it started in 2003, with an estimated 100,000 people cared for annually.
“It's mainly homeless people or veterans or elderly [people] or any family that’s really in need that could use the money elsewhere on other basic needs such as groceries or school supplies,” Vandenlangenberg said.
At its events, Laundry Love supplies people who come into the laundromat with quarters, soap, and dryer sheets. Paying for laundry might not seem like a big expense, but Vandenlangenberg says it adds up quickly, especially for families.
“One load of our megas is $7.50 a load. So if you take a family of 5, that’s a lot of money to do a day’s worth of laundry,” she said.
For neighbors like Green Bay resident Mary Lambert, not having to pay for laundry means she can save money for other expenses.
“Loads of Love helps me do laundry which I normally can’t afford, which frees money up for other things like helping my grandchildren and my daughter out,” Lambert said.
Laundry Love works with other local non-profits, shelters, and senior living facilities to find neighbors like Mary who may be in need of clean clothes.
“They have food, they’re very welcoming. It’s a very positive energy and financially it helps quite a bit because I’m elderly and I’m on a fixed income,” Lambert said.
Volunteers say the gratitude they receive from the neighbors they help out is overwhelming.
“We’ve had families cry and say they can now afford groceries for their family," Vandenlangenberg said. "We’ve had mothers say 'oh my goodness' I can afford milk or other needs, I can pay my heat bill, especially this time of year."
To learn about Laundry Love's upcoming events or learn how you can volunteer, visit laundrylovegreenbay.org.
