By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Last August, United Way of Central Kansas introduced Laundry Love to the
Great Bend community where the organization provides free laundry services for
low- or no-income families and individuals. Hosting the event at a laundromat
once a month, United Way helped more than 50 families and provided nearly 240
loads of free laundry in the first three months.
Serving both Barton and Pawnee counties, United Way of Central Kansas is now
expanding the laundry initiative to Larned.
At Thursday's Larned Area Chamber of Commerce coffee hour, United Way Executive Director
Charell Owings said the effort is to help prevent physical and emotional strain
that poor health and hygiene places on the under-resourced in the community.
"It's a way for us to come to where the people in need are instead of asking them to come to us," said Owings. "It puts us on their turf where they're comfortable. It's not just about the laundry. It's about making those connections, and telling them about the services that are available in their area."
Funds for up to five loads of laundry per family as well as all the supplies
needed are provided.
Laundry Love in Larned will take place once a month on the final Wednesday. The first event will be Feb. 22 from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. at Santa Fe Laundry on Broadway Street.
"A few of the people that we've seen are duplicates each month," said Owings. "A lot of them though we'll see maybe two of the six months. It's not always the same people. We've had people come in that have four kids at home, their washer and dryer are broken and haven't been able to get anyone to get it fixed. They just need help that one month."
Owings said United Way is always looking for sponsors each month to cover the laundry
expenses. A sponsorship is $200.