Orange Sky launches free laundry service in Whitsundays

A free laundry pod will soon be available to people doing it tough in the Whitsundays, allowing them to connect with volunteers while they have their washing done.

Orange Sky laundry pods. Photo: Contributed

Queensland charity Orange Sky is ramping up for the launch of its latest laundry pod, this time supporting people doing it tough in the Whitsundays.

The new pod at the Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre will mark Orange Sky’s 48th service launch across Australia.

Regional co-ordinator for Orange Sky, Megan Collins, said the decision to launch in the Whitsundays was driven by increasing demand for support services in the region, as highlighted by rising homelessness figures.

“With the growing cost of living and housing crisis, Orange Sky identified the Whitsundays as an area where their services could make a meaningful impact,” she said.

“The laundry pod model was the ideal fit to provide quick and effective support to those in need.”

Orange Sky provides free mobile laundry and shower services to people experiencing homelessness or hardship and Ms Collins said it was about more than just clean clothes.

“Orange Sky creates a safe space for genuine connections between volunteers and community members,” she said.

“Orange Sky helps thousands of people by restoring dignity, building relationships, and fostering a sense of belonging.”

Usually, Orange Sky delivers its services via their bright orange mobile vans, but the Whitsundays will welcome something a bit more permanent called a “laundry pod”.

The laundry pod will be fitted with two washing machines and two dryers, with shifts operated by a team of local volunteers

Executive officer and commissioner for declarations from the Whitsundays Neighbourhood Centre, Rebecca Woods, said the charity was excited to be able to bring the service to the Whitsundays.

“We’ve been advocating for more services, more support for people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping, couch surfing and all those situations that have come about from the housing crisis,” she said.

“We are a small community and so we often have to fight harder and advocate harder for services like that because of our small population in terms of return on investment.”

She also said people who were experiencing homelessness and living rough in the Whitsundays were often not able to relocate because of their circumstances.

“For us to be able to get those services here, it just means that we’re adding to the supports for people in those circumstances,” she said.

The charity is hoping it can add showering facilities at the centre which would provide even more support for the community which has only previously experienced Orange Sky services during a natural disaster.

“This not only serves to strengthen our disaster resilience, but to support people doing it tough year-round,” she said.

The Orange Sky service in the Whitsundays is set to launch on Monday, May 21.

Members of the community doing it tough or in need of support are encouraged to head down to the Whitsundays Neighbourhood Centre to connect with the Orange Sky volunteers while they have their washing done at no cost.

Orange Sky also welcomed community locals who were interested in volunteering to head to orangesky.org.au/volunteer to sign up.

Originally published as Orange Sky launches free laundry service in Whitsundays