Orange Sky Laundry hopes to double its shifts on the Mid-North Coast by the end of the year.
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The free mobile laundry service for the homeless operates five shifts a week and is a catalyst for conversation.
Orange Sky Laundry head of operations David Tubb said they would like to increase that to eight shifts a week by mid-year and 10 by the end of the year.
“The more services we run, the more people we can help, but by doubling the services we need to double the amount of volunteers,” he said.
It is hoped to introduce some shifts outside of business hours.
Volunteers need to give two hours a week or a fortnight.
Mr Tubb said volunteers did not have to be laundry experts but be willing to have real conversations with the service’s homeless friends.
The service helps on average about 25 people a week in Port Macquarie, Wauchope, Laurieton, Taree and Kempsey.
The fundraising efforts of Make a Difference made the Mid-North Coast van possible.
Mr Tubb said the community support had been amazing.
“We are looking to keep growing but we need everyone’s help to make that happen,” he said.
The service here has a team of 27 volunteers.
Orange Sky Laundry, which has just launched its 22nd van, operates about 160 shifts a week around Australia, providing about 700 loads of laundry to their friends on the street.
Three vans in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne provide showers for the homeless.
Mr Tubb said Orange Sky Laundry was very passionate this year about continuing to expand its vans’ reach and using the vans to help as many people as possible.
People can register to volunteer on the Orange Sky Laundry website.