Orange Sky, widely known for its mobile laundry vans providing free services to people experiencing homelessness, has expanded its impact with a stationary social impact laundromat in North Adelaide. This innovative step is a continuation of Orange Sky’s mission to challenge conventional thinking and create greater social impact.
The idea behind the laundromat is straightforward: provide Adelaide locals with a simple way to support those in need while taking care of their own laundry. The laundromat operates as a paid service, with all proceeds funneled back into Orange Sky’s free laundry and shower services. This means that every load of washing helps fund essential services for people doing it tough.
Since its opening in December 2021, the laundromat on Melbourne Street has become a trusted part of the community, completing nearly 9,300 loads of laundry. Orange Sky has had a presence in Adelaide since 2016 with their mobile laundry van, ‘Sandy’, and the community’s support has been strong from the start. The decision to open a stationary laundromat in this location was a natural progression, building on the existing trust and enthusiasm of the Adelaide community.
Tom, a South Australian volunteer with Orange Sky, shared his experiences of the positive impact the service has had on both those in need and himself. “Volunteering with Orange Sky is such an easy thing to do and it provides practical help to our friends who are doing it tough,” Tom explained. He highlighted how something as simple as clean, freshly laundered clothing can make a significant difference in someone’s life.
Tom also shared a story of a regular visitor who, despite not using the laundry services, cherished the weekly interactions and friendships he formed with the volunteers. This underscores Orange Sky’s broader mission of not just providing clean clothes, but also fostering meaningful connections.
Transitioning from mobile services to a public laundromat has presented its challenges. Operating a laundromat open to the public requires different operational processes and safety considerations. Despite these hurdles, the laundromat serves as a contingency for those who need support outside the usual mobile service hours or when the vans are unavailable due to maintenance.
Looking ahead, Orange Sky is committed to tripling its impact by 2025, aiming to help 40,000 people experiencing homelessness. The social impact laundromat is a key part of this vision, providing an innovative way to scale their services and reach more people in need.
Adelaide locals can support Orange Sky by using the laundromat on Melbourne Street or by volunteering with the organisation. Every wash helps fund essential services, and more volunteers are always needed to keep things running smoothly.
By supporting Orange Sky’s social impact laundromat, the Adelaide community can make a real difference in the lives of those doing it tough, one load of laundry at a time.
For more information on how to get involved:
