By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
In August 2022, United Way of Central Kansas introduced Laundry Love in Great Bend where the organization provides free laundry services for low- or no-income families and individuals. The initiative was successful enough to expand to Larned in February 2023.
United Way Executive Director Charell Owings said the goal of Laundry Love is to help prevent physical and emotional strain that poor health and hygiene places on the under-resourced in the community.
"The look on people's faces when they come and volunteer for the first time...they realize that the program is not just about doing laundry," said Owings. "It's really about the connections being made between the volunteers and even between the clients themselves. They help each other move laundry, answer questions and even give rides to each other. It's become a real community within this program."
Hosting the event at a laundromat once a month in each community, sponsors have provided funds for up to five loads of laundry per family. United Way is always looking for supplies, resources and other items to pull off the event.
"We like to have snacks on hand," said Owings. "A lot of times we have kids there. We have coloring books and Dolly Parton books. We'll take donations of snack items, water bottles and things to have out for the clients that come. We'll always take things like OxiClean or the random stuff you may only need once every three months. We'll always take those kind of donations."
Owings said between 25 and 30 clients take advantage of Laundry Love in Great Bend each month. In Larned, between 10 and 15 clients make use of the service.
Laundry Love in Larned takes place on the final Wednesday each month from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Santa Fe Laundry on Broadway Street. In Great Bend, the event is the third Saturday each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Discount Laundry on Jefferson Street.