Orange Sky Laundry will
provide services that aim to improve the quality of life of those living on
Brisbane's streets.
The idea is the brainchild of two 20-year-olds
from Brisbane, Nicholas Marchesi and Lucas Patchett.
The non- profit
organisation is based upon the simple mantra; to treat others how you would
like to be treated.
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The Build Process of the Orange Sky Laundry Van
A van with two washing machines and dryers will
work with other homeless service outreach programs providing free clothes
washing services, as well as basic hygiene packs and information on other out
reach services.
Currently Orange Sky Laundry is in a pilot stage
where they are undertaking a process of trial and error to ensure that they are
effective as possible.
“There are over 50 charities that help service the
homeless in South- East Queensland and we will work in conjunction with them in
order to be where we are need most,” said Lucas.
“Obviously at the moment we can't be at everyone of
them.
“So we are trying to figure out where we will be
most wanted and needed.
“The only way to really do this is through trial
and error.”
As a result a set schedule has yet to be decided
upon, however Orange Sky Laundry is about to embark in a 3-month trial period
where they hope to achieve maximum efficiency.
Eddie’s van, a service helping to feed the
homeless, volunteer Malachy Maher believes that Orange Sky Laundry will make a
significant change in the lives of homeless people.
“A lot of the homeless I have encountered don’t
have to much self respect,” said Malachy.
“I don’t know exactly why but I think one reason is a lack of self worth.
“Orange Sky Laundry will hopefully change the way
that the homeless view themselves by helping them maintain better standard of
living even if it is just having a clean set of clothes to change into.”
Orange Sky Laundry have fitted out a van with two
washing machines and two dryers that were donated by their partners, Richard J
Laundry and the chemicals used have been provided by Symbio.
As of yet Government funding has not been applied
for, however, Nic and Lucas believe it will be necessary in the future.
“At the moment we are focusing on Brisbane, and
with the donations we have already received we are able to fund the project.”
Said Nic.
“But eventually we do want to spread to regions
greater than Brisbane, so eventually Government funding is definitely going to
be needed.”
The biggest hurdle that Orange Sky Laundry has
faced is its access to water and power at the sites they wish to visit.
Currently, negotiations are taking place with
local councils to seek approval to use public water or power, but Nic has
assured that this can be over come.
“Accessing water and power is going to be tricky
in certain places,” Said Nic.
“We are working with local councils to find an
appropriate solution, but if that falls through local businesses can always
help us out.
“If a nearby local business is kind enough to let
us use their facilities there will be no reason that Orange Sky Laundry can’t
go ahead.”
The idea for the charity was born through work with other charities.
“Lucas and myself have been fortunate enough to
grow up in a stable family with everything we needed, but we both know that
there is others out there that haven’t had the same blessings as us,” said
Nicholas.
“We have both previously worked with charities
helping the homeless but saw the need for something different.
“There are a lot of charities helping to feed and
cloth the homeless, and there will always be room for more, but after talking
to some of Brisbane’s homeless we started to see that there isn’t enough being
done to help improve living standards.
“So we thought that starting a portable laundry
service would help the homeless maintain a higher quality of living by ensuring
that they will always have a way to wash their clothes.”
Orange Sky Laundry is hoping to launch early next month, for more information please visit www.orangeskylaundry.com.au
Unfortunately Orange Sky Laundry is yet to launch on Twitter! But this is soon to change and they are already being recognised!  |
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