By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A FREE mobile laundry service for homeless and disadvantaged people located in Pakenham offers more than just clean clothes.
Orange Sky Laundry (OSL) recently set up a permanent six-day-a-week volunteer-run service outside 4Cs crisis centre in Pakenham.
OSL Service manager for southeast Melbourne Steve Winterton said volunteers invited those accessing the service to pull up a chair and talk.
“We don’t just wash clothes of our friends on the street. We provide chairs for our friends to sit and have a chat to our fantastic volunteers and consider this to be a massive part of our service,” Mr Winterton said.
“It’s as much about being a non-judgmental ear to talk to as much as washing their clothes.”
The service was first trialled in Pakenham from 1.30pm until 3.30pm on Thursdays.
But a significant uptake in the free-of-charge service meant it not only secured a permanent spot in Pakenham – but runs from 11.30am until 1.30pm every day except Saturday.
“Some people are really grateful. I spoke with one lady who lives out of her car and she was washing her clothing in a public toilet. She was really grateful,” Mr Winterton said.
According to the most recent census, homelessness is most prevalent in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
It found 145 people in Cardinia Shire were recorded as ‘sleeping rough’ while more than 230 people identified as living in caravans or improvised homes or tents.
4Cs Client Services manager Bec Burr said word-of-mouth was drawing a rising number of homeless or disadvantaged people to the crisis centre where they were being connected to other support services.
“Quite a few people have said it has been a blessing and helped financially. We encourage them to come in and use the food room as they wait for their washing cycle,” she said.
The free washing and drying service also operates at Dandenong Cornerstone Contact Centre between 5.30pm and 8pm on Thursday and Sunday, from 5pm until 7pm every Monday at Narre Warren’s Transit Soup Kitchen and in Cranbourne from 6.30pm until 8.30pm on Friday.
Mr Winterton said these locations were in desperate need of volunteers.
Anyone wishing to volunteer their time to the homelessness support service is asked to contact Mr Winterton on 0457 042 724.
