Free Laundry For Homeless

Good News Good Planet

For more delicious news, go to www.GoodNewsGoodPlanet.com, and scroll to bottom for more ways to find the feel good stuff!* FREE LAUNDRY FOR THE HOMELESS When we think of the needs of the homeless, most people think of food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters. But homeless people have many other needs just like everyone else, like finding a place to shower or a cheap place to wash their clothes. As a former social worker, laundromat owner Samuel Van De Cruze, recognized these challenges firsthand. “Clean clothes and bedding are necessities to function and be healthy—almost as important as food and shelter,” he says. Van De Cruze realized he was in a position to help. It started as an Easter gift to the local community. He offered his laundry services, free of charge, to a local homeless shelter. Each evening for a week, he and his staff picked up the laundry, washed, dried and folded it, then returned it by 7 a.m. the next morning. This gave families time to dress in clean clothes for school, job training or job- and house-hunting. All in all, Van De Cruze ended up washing a thousand pounds of laundry, saving 75 families about $5000 that they could use elsewhere for food and other essentials. Through his simple act of kindness, Van De Cruz connected with those in need by addressing a basic need. He saved the families money and gave them clean clothes. And he also gave them the gift of time, which they could use to help find themselves a job, go to classes, or look for a permanent home. Van De Cruze acknowledges that he’s runs a business that has to turn a profit, so he cannot do this all the time. But he serves as an example of simple, real world assistance that makes an immediate impact. And funding laundry for the homeless is something anyone can do any time, at laundry marts nationwide. #### *Hungry for more of the Good Stuff? Search "Good News Good Planet" on YouTube, Instagram, Patreon, Alexa and wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.