Two 20-Year-Olds Are Hoping To Clean Up The Streets Of Australia With Free Mobile Laundry Service For The Homeless

Orange Sky Laundry

Two 20-year-old Australians are helping out the local homeless population in Brisbane one load of laundry at a time. Orange Sky Laundry, founded by Lucas Patchett and Nic Marchesi, was founded in July. Run by volunteers, the non-profit mobile laundry service aims to raise health standards and restore respect to Brisbane’s nearly 300 homeless people, as well as reduce strain on resources, says the Orange Sky website.

The laundry van shadows food vans that serve the homeless; while they’re eating, they can now have their laundry washed and dried in about an hour.

Orange Sky Laundry

Orange Sky Laundry

We don’t have any laundry facilities here, but have a lot of rough sleepers come here for feeds and support so this is actually ideal for us,” Major Bryce Davies from Brisbane’s Street Level Mission told 7News Brisbane.

Orange Sky’s van currently contains two washing machines and two dryers, which allow about 10 people to get their clothes done each hour, according to the project’s website. Approximately 20 kg (or about 44 pounds) of laundry can be done in an hour, says Orange Sky; to accomplish this, the van tows a power generator and sources water from either nearby parks or local businesses.

Orange Sky Laundry

Orange Sky Laundry

Right now, the Orange Sky Laundry van will be on the streets of Brisbane five days a week. This, however, is just a test phase — eventually, Patchett and Marchesi hope to have a “fleet” of larger trucks or vans, says Orange Sky. The pilot van will be tested until the end of the year, after which Australians might begin to see Orange Sky vehicles dispensing clean clothes all over the country.