Orange Sky Laundry is a charity based in Brisbane, Australia, that offers a free mobile laundry service for the homeless. It was established in September 2014 by Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett, who were named Young Australians of the Year in 2016. The service has since expanded across Australia. As of June 2024[update] Orange Sky offered services to 38 locations, of which 14 are in remote communities.
Background
Orange Sky Laundry was established on 4 September 2014[1] and began operations on 10 October 2014.[2] Marchesi describes himself and Patchett as "two normal everyday blokes who had a crazy idea".[3] They had previously volunteered at food vans and other outreach programs while still at school, and had a passion to help the homeless. Their idea "started as a fun test project — to see if it would work. From there, it took a life of its own.”[4] They took the name for their service from the Alexi Murdoch song "Orange Sky", which is about lending a hand to those in need.[5]
Orange Sky Laundry is a government-registered charity.[1] The service is believed to be a world first.[3]
In February 2015, five months after they started with the first van in Brisbane in October 2014,[6] and two weeks after their expansion into Cairns, Cyclone Marcia hit the central Queensland coast and the then 20-year-olds headed to the area to offer their free service to affected communities.[7] Similarly, in January 2016, they travelled to Victoria to provide laundry services to people affected by the Great Ocean Road bushfires.[8]
The laundry vans filled a service gap and not only offered clean clothes and blankets but also dignity. Marchesi says the human connections enabled to the isolated is the most important aspect of their initiative.[9] Each van also carries six orange chairs. During the time the laundry is being washed and dried in the vans, the volunteers sit and socialise with the visitors.[10]
By July 2016, Orange Sky had 10 vans and 600 volunteers, and were estimated to be washing nearly six tonnes of laundry each week.[24] By 2018 they had 13 vans servicing 121 locations, with over 800 volunteers.[25] They have plans to expand to the US.[26]
Another initiative is "Australia's first social impact laundromat", a commercial laundromat run by Orange Sky in Melbourne Street, North Adelaide, with profits helping to fund the organisation's laundry services to homeless people.[27]
Since 2018 Orange Sky has extended its reach into remote Indigenous communities across Australia. As of June 2024[update] Orange Sky offered services to 38 locations, of which 14 are in remote communities.[28]
Orange Sky Showers
On 23 August 2016, Orange Sky launched a new mobile service: free hot showers for the homeless. One of the homeless people to first try the shower van described it as "bloody awesome".[29] The first van was being trialled in Brisbane in 2016, with plans to move it permanently to Melbourne, as it was funded by the Shine On Foundation based in Melbourne.[30]
Awards
On Australia Day 2016, the two co-founders were awarded joint Young Australians of the Year for their social entrepreneurship.[31] In their acceptance speeches after being announced as winners by the Australian prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, Patchett said "we can restore respect, raise health standards and be a catalyst for conversation". Marchesi continued "It's so crazy and humbling to think such a simple idea has had such a significant impact".[32]
In June 2016 they were invited to Frankfurt, Germany to receive a Global Best Practices Award: Special Award for Corporate Social Responsibility.[33]
In October 2018, Orange Sky was given the People's Choice Award in the Google Impact Challenge Australia.[34]
^ abc"SE Melbourne – Orange Sky Laundry". Orange Sky Laundry. 10 October 2015. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2016. On Orange Sky Laundry's 1st Birthday, and World Homeless Day (10 October 2015), we launched our 4th service into the community of South East Victoria.
^"Orange Sky Laundry – What We Do". Orange Sky Laundry. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016. Orange Sky Laundry is a catalyst for conversation. In the one hour time it takes to wash and dry someone's clothes there is absolutely nothing to do but sit down on one of our 6 orange chairs and have a positive and genuine conversation between our everyday volunteers and everyday friends on the street.
^Ly, Sophie (10 October 2015). "Orange Sky Laundry". 2SER Radio - Saturday Breakfast. Event occurs at 02:47. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
