Laundry Love

It’s raining outside and I mean really raining. They come bearing baskets, bags, and boxes overflowing with laundry. Some walk, some drive, some are brought by friends.

This is Laundry Love. Every other month St. Stephen’s will head to the Imperial Laundry-mat in Woodlawn to share the gift of clean clothes. Towels and linens are amid the piles thrown into opened washers. We throw in the laundry pods and began to deposit the quarters. It sounds as though you are in Las Vegas as the coins connect with the machines. And then click! The red light appears and all systems are go. For the next 32 minutes you can watch the clothes go round and round while Judge Judy decides her next verdict.

It really is a simple task. One that most of us don’t even think about until you want that favorite shirt! But for some it is a luxury-done only when absolutely necessary. Laundry Love is from 3:30 to 6:30 and there is a steady flow of customers. Conversation is lively and rain is finally subsiding. Dryers are finished and folding tables now cleared. As our new friends dash out into the evening dampness, a heartfelt “Thank You” is given. “See you next time!!”

This is one of our new friends that loves the smell of his clean jacket!

He gave us permission to use his picture.

With the smell of dryer sheets in the air, we pack up the table. Over 106 loads were done tonight and somewhere someone is falling asleep on freshly cleaned sheets in their freshly cleaned pj’s. It doesn’t get much better!

Janet Robertshaw