(LAURA)
THERE'S A GROWING
MOVEMENT BY CHURCHES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO
SPREAD
LOVE, FRIENDSHIP AND
CLEAN LAUNDRY.
IT'S CALLED LAUNDRY LOVE.
AND IT'S TESTING THE
COMMON SAYING - NOTHING
IN LIFE IS FREE.
(LAURA CASO)
HAPPINESS IS WASHING OVER
CUSTOMERS
AT SOAPS N SUDS IN GHENT.
CAROL CRANE/SOAPS N SUDS
EMPLOYEE "THIS PROGRAM
HERE IS MY LIFE BECAUSE
I'M ALL ABOUT LOVE"
IN THIS CASE, LAUNDRY
LOVE.
NAKIA BECKETT/SOAP N SUDS
EMPLOYEE "IT BUILDS THEM
UP, IT'S EXCITING, IT
MAKES THEM FEEL GOOD."
CAROL AND NIKIA HAVE
WORKED AT SOAPS N SUDS
FOR FIVE YEARS COMBINED.
THEY SEE A CHANGE IN
CUSTOMERS ONCE A MONTH
WHEN THE MINISTRY FROM
SAINT
ANDREWS AND FIRST
LUTHERAN STOP BY FOR
LAUNDRY LOVE.
MARGUERITE ALLEY/DEACON
"IT'S WHAT WE ARE CALLED
TO DO AS PEOPLE OF FAITH,
IS TO HELP EACHOTHER,
SPEND TIME WITH."
LAUNDRY LOVE IS AN
ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS
LOW-INCOME AND HOMELESS
MEMBERS OF
THE COMMUNITY DO THEIR
LAUNDRY.
THE CONCEPT IS SIMPLE,
CUSTOMERS ARE HANDED OUT
FREE LAUNDRY CARDS WORTH
15 DOLLARS.
A CHANCE TO DO THEIR
LAUNDRY - AT NO COST TO
THEM.
GENEVIEVE NELSON/DEACON
"LAUNDRY IS REALLY A
VEHICLE TO GET TO KNOW
OUR NEIGHBORS."
THIS MINISTRY RAISES
MONEY SO THEY CAN GIVE
AWAY LAUNDRY CARDS,
DETERGENT,
DRYER SHEETS, EVEN FOOD.
"I GOT A FREE 15 DOLLAR
TODAY.
"I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR
THAT."
SHE'S USING THE PROGRAM
TO WASH CLOTHES FOR HER
FAMILY.
SOMETIMES IT CAN COST
UPWARDS OF 70- DOLLARS.
SHEREE HORTON/CUSTOMER "I
COME HERE TO GET HELP,
BECAUSE I NEED THE EXTRA
HELP."
SHEREE SAYS SOMETIMES SHE
CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR
HER LAUNDRY.
"WE CAN GO AND SAVE OUR
MONEY AND BUY SOME FOOD
OR SOMETHING WITH IT."
OR BUY HER TWO-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER SHOES, SHE SAYS.
"PEOPLE FEEL LIKE WHEN
THEY HAVE SOMEONE THAT
FOR THEMSELVES AND
OTHERS."
PEOPLE HERE
FORMING FRIENDSHIPS OVER
A FRESH LOAD OF LAUNDRY
AND A LOT OF - YOU
GUESSED IT - LOVE.
"IT MEANS THE WORLD FOR
ME TO HAVE CLEAN CLOTHES
ON OUR BACK, IT FEELS
GOOD WHEN WE GO HOME, WE
HAVE CLEAN CLOTHES!"
(LAURA)
MORE THAN 80 CHURCHES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE
DOING THIS FOR THOSE IN
THEIR COMMUNITY.
TO LEARN FROM ABOUT THE
LAUNDRY LOVE PROGRAM IN
HAMPTON ROADS- CONTACT
SAINT
ANDREWS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
IN NORFOLK.
