Orange Sky Laundry is Australia's first mobile laundry service for the homeless. Founded by Lucas Patchett and Nicholas Marchesi, the volunteer organisation was started up in July of this year.
Together, the two mates from Brisbane turned an old white panel van into a mobile laundry.
We got started as a result of seeing the fantastic work that food vans and the like do for homeless people. Food, healthcare and support are all readily available yet there is minimal affordable access to hygiene services and we feel it is an area that is overlooked.
At first, the pair were met with hesitation, but their consistent presence in the area has raised familiarity.
There was some hesitance in the very beginning as with any new service for these guys/girls as they have been done over a number of times and are therefore suspicious but all it takes is a constance presence and an ability to engage and the majority are on board with it.
They are yet to use any volunteers - having just got on the road and rolling around a month ago - but they already have over a 100 applicants.
Currently, with two washers and two dryers, the van is able to cater to 10 people per hour.
Orange Sky Laundry teams up with a bunch of other food vans and other organisations so they can get everything clean and ready to go as quickly as possible.
You can donate to Orange Sky and help the guys as they continue to expand. Six dollars buys one cycle for someone in need (a bit more than a cup of coffee!)
