The van visits the grounds of Taree Uniting Church in Albert Street every Friday between 10am and noon to provide people experiencing hardship in our community with a free washing service. 

The introduction of the van was the brainchild of Erin Denham of Make a Difference Port Macquarie and earlier this year, the Taree Community Connect Committee donated over $23,000 to the Port Macquarie based organisation. 

Orange Sky Laundry Port Macquarie assistant service manager Alison Neale said the service was going really well and now operates in Port Macquarie, Laurieton, Wauchope, Kempsey as well as Taree.

“We’ve had people in tears,” Mrs Neale said. “They just can’t thank us enough.”

The fundraising efforts of Make a Difference made the Orange Sky Laundry van a reality on the Mid North Coast.

“It has been an incredible journey,” Mrs Neale said.

She said community support had been outstanding with $110,000 raised in around nine months.

The Orange Sky Laundry was founded in the streets of Brisbane in 2015, and now boasts vans in multiple locations across the country.

The Orange Sky Laundry van is here to stay and volunteers are an integral part of the service.

“The main role of the volunteers is to meet our friends and sit with them having a genuine conversation,” Mrs Neale said.

Orange Sky Laundry is a catalyst for conversation and connections.

Volunteers need to be able to give a minimum of two hours a week and must undertake training called Orangetation.

Maggie Clarke is one of the Port Macquarie volunteers.

“It’s rewarding and it’s a way of connecting with the community and enabling those that may be isolated,” she said.

“You meet new people and talk to people from all walks of life.”

For more information or to register to volunteer go to the Orange Sky Laundry website or phone 07 3062 4811.

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