“Nobody likes to wear secondhand undies but sometimes that’s your only option.”
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It’s a shocking reality for many people in the Taree area who are homeless and Orange Sky Laundry is driving a campaign for donations of new socks and undies that can be gifted for Christmas.
Orange Sky Laundry service manager Alison Neale is inviting the Taree community to back the donation drive and says “every item will be gifted and appreciated.”
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“Our appeal for socks and undies comes from the fact that it’s the last thing people will spend their money on if they are doing it tough,” Alison said.
“Most of our friends who use the service will chose to spend their money on outer clothing or food or blankets, there is always something else first. It doesn't matter who you are, nobody likes to wear secondhand undies but sometimes that’s your only option.
“We hear stories of women having their periods and not having any undies, so this donation drive is a way for the community to show they care by doing just a little thing for someone that will make a big difference.”
Alison says any donations will be welcome to meet the need of both men and women.
“We need a mixture but probably have more men sleeping rough. That's only because women are able to stay sleeping on someone's couch or temporarily live with a friend for a little longer - girlfriends will put up with girlfriends a bit longer than men will put up with men when they are sleeping from house to house.”
It will be lovely to give them something new, nice and needed.
- Alison Neale
The Orange Sky Laundry provides two services in Taree each week, one near Taree Community Kitchen between 11am and 1pm on Monday and the other is near Taree Uniting Church between 10am and noon on Friday.
The van is fitted with two washing machines and two dryers and volunteers deliver the free laundry service and share conversations with people experiencing homelessness. Alison says more volunteers are always needed and people can register to volunteer on the Orange Sky Laundry website.
OneLife Church in Muldoon Street, Taree is a collection point for the socks and undies and is open for people to drop-in donations Tuesday to Thursday between 10am and 4pm, or you can contact Orange Sky Laundry Taree team leader, Ainslee Dennis on 0423 889 592.
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