Two Australians from Brisbane have decided to help the poor and regain their self-respect by offering a basic service most of us take for granted. Called Orange Sky Laundry, the van has 2 washers and 2 dryers and can serve approximately 10 people per hour. Initially run as a pilot project, the team claims they want to expand the service.
Their dream is to have a fleet of larger trucks (with 6 washers and 6 dryers) or vans servicing locations around the country.
For now, the van tows a generator for power and uses water from the parks/local business depending on the area. Following the trial, the appropriate water and power connections will be in place and the final schedule will be published. The washers are automatically fed so there are no powders or toxic chemicals. The volunteers simply load the linen bags and, once clean, return the belongings to their owner.
5 days per week, 20 kg of clean washing per hour
The van works at least 5 days per week testing different locations and different crowds of people from Brisbane to Ipswich. According to their website, they have two 10kg washers and dryers that allow them to get 20 kg of clean washing out every hour. Additionally, linen bags and efficient color co-ordination system will allow to wash multiple people’s clothes at once and keep their belongings together.
Apart from frequent donations, so far the team managed to partner up with a couple of corporate sponsors but they are obviously looking for new volunteers and donors who feel they can help.
As far as we’re concerned, we have to admit people using cars for helping others for a change sort of touches our soft spot. It’s too bad they aren't located in the U.S., because they could’ve partnered up with LavaMae, the NGO that transforms unused old city buses into fully functioning showers for homeless people to use.
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