What is it: Having clean clothing provides a measure of dignity to the wearer. That is the driving concept for a new project from the First Congregational UCC, which has brought Laundry Love to Sandusky.
A comment at a Shoreline service during the summer about people wearing clothing from
Care & Share until they were dirty, and then replacing the items because they were unable to afford the cost of doing laundry, sparked further conversations and ultimately led Rev. Lenore Kure, pastor of First Congregational UCC, to the
Laundry Love website.
The nationwide initiative, started in Ventura, Calif., 20 years ago, helps pay for laundry services to low- and no-income families. It considers the laundromat as a neutral space that helps break down the walls that separate people. Its stated goal is, “To brighten the lives of thoughts of people each month through love, dignity and detergent.”
With the cost of a load of laundry typically about $5, the mission of Laundry Love is to help families redirect that money to other basic everyday necessities.
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Just Like Home Laundry, 519 Tiffin Ave., Sandusky, hosts Laundry Love once a month.The First Congregational UCC group approached Annette Wilcox, owner of
Just Like Home Laundry, 519 Tiffin Ave., who jumped at the opportunity to host the laundry mission. They then received grants from the Make A Difference Fund of the United Church of Christ and the
Mylander Foundation to help support the project.
How it started: Once the research into Laundry Love was completed, Kure’s group reached out to Wilcox about using her laundromat. Along with the funding, the local project is getting a boost from the Laundry Love partnership with
Earth Breeze, a laundry detergent company that provides environmentally friendly detergent sheets for free.
The program is limited to once a month for the time being and, after trial runs in October and November, hosted its first official event on Dec. 21. The goal is to ultimately make the service available more than once a month.
There are also six volunteers on hand to help pass out refreshments and socialize with guests as they wait for their clothes to wash and dry, but not preach.
“Of course, we talk about God and the church, if asked,” Kure says in a press release. “But we are modeling Jesus, not pushing him to anyone. He calls us to help the poor and love our neighbors, and that’s what we’re doing.”
For information: The Laundry Love program is a once-a-month opportunity that will run from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month. Guests must make appointments prior to the date by calling 215-896-9839 (please, no calls after 8 p.m.).
The next event is Jan. 18 and people interested in making an appointment should not call before Jan. 11.
The program is also looking for volunteers to help. The requirements for volunteering are a commitment to three hours a month, a non-judgmental attitude, and a willingness to interact with guests in a way that makes them feel valued and respected.
Call the church at 419-625-8105 or
[email protected] to volunteer.