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new laundry program aims to provide clean clothes for all in need
"it's something so simple but can make such a big difference."
aug 27 2024
3 minute read
seaspray laundry in regina is shown on tuesday, august 27, 2024. the laundromat is celebrating its 30th anniversary through a partnership with rally around homelessness, which is aiming to raise funds to cover 1,000 loads of laundry for homeless community members and north central families in september.
heywood yu
/
regina leader-post
a laundry program is hitting regina streets this fall, building on a rally around homelessness campaign that amassed 2,500 pairs of new underwear for the city’s unhoused last month.
“one of the main things that community members brought up was that, as fantastic as it is to provide clean undergarments, what are people supposed to do going forward when they’re no longer clean?” said rally around homelessness volunteer and spokesperson erinn paik in an interview monday.
the campaign aims to raise enough money to donate 1,000 loads of laundry by the end of september and supplies through a partnership with seaspray laundry on dewdney avenue.
rally around homelessness and other local organizations, including the circle project association and regina street team, will be handing out laundry vouchers to those in need by thanksgiving, marking three years since rally’s inception. each voucher will be good for one wash load and one dry load, including soap.
if the campaign is successful, paik estimates it will be able to reach about 400 people, assuming there are enough funds to cover 1,000 loads of laundry.
those interested in donating can do so by contacting rallyqr@gmail.com . all funds will be pooled, and a cheque will be cut to fund the prepaid laundry account directly, according to a media release.
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paik says the community support for this program has been overwhelmingly positive so far.
“it’s just been so amazing to see some of these founding partners and community members be so excited to help,” said paik. “but this is a program that we want to run not only for the month of september, but ongoing …
“it will need continued support in order to be available long term.”
bags of clothes can be seen inside regina’s seaspray laundry on tuesday, august 27, 2024.
heywood yu
/
regina leader-post
while vouchers will be given to the unhoused, paik says many people across the city are struggling to make ends meet. with laundry and utility costs adding an extra burden, vouchers will also be available to them.
“not everyone can afford to finance a washer and dryer because their rental unit doesn’t come with one, and a lot of families, especially with the economy, are really struggling to even make utility payments,” explained paik.
“a clean load of laundry for children with school starting next week would make such a difference in someone’s life and only cost someone else the amount of a starbucks coffee.”
paik adds that having clean laundry can impact social and psychological well-being as well as physical health for those living unhoused.
“we don’t think about that on a day-to-day basis when we can just go home from work and throw clothes in the wash ….,” she said. “it’s something so simple but can make such a big difference.”
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with this year marking seaspray laundry’s 30th anniversary, manager sherry vester says it was the perfect opportunity to say thank you.
“this is a wonderful way to help give back to the community that has supported us for 30 years,” said vester, adding that the local laundromat often helps out customers with a free wash when they need it.
last month, rally around homelessness set out to collect 488 pairs of underwear through its “i gotch you” campaign — one pair for each individual who was part of regina’s most recent point-in-time homelessness count in 2021.
after the organization blew past its target with a whopping 2,500 pairs this summer, paik called the program a “resounding success.”
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