So Much More Than Laundry
Thousands of Families are in Emergency Accommodation this Holiday Season
Many Australian families are out of sight but not out of crisis. Some are fleeing domestic violence, while others have been displaced by soaring rents. These parents and children, struggling to keep their clothes clean, are facing the isolation of homelessness.
Orange Sky’s Pick Up Program provides more than laundry—it offers connection and hope. Through free laundry services in emergency accommodation, we give parents a moment to connect with their children and find relief from daily pressures.
Our volunteers foster community by not only washing clothes but also spending time with families, offering conversation and support. These small acts of kindness restore hope during difficult times.
Donate Today
9-year old Kayla and her family were living out of a crisis motel room when they met the Orange Sky team. When they moved into a home of their own, Kayla left this note for our volunteers.
It really shows how your support provides so much more than laundry –Â it brings connection to the people who need it most.
“When I meet friends on shift, I see my mum, my brother, my sister. I think back to how tough my mum had it with four kids and I wish Orange Sky had been around for her.”
— Max, who experienced homelessness as a child, now volunteers with Orange Sky to help families like his own.
Max and his family lived between their car and relatives’ homes, often feeling embarrassed by their dirty clothes. Today, Max gives back by volunteering, knowing how much clean laundry can restore confidence and dignity.
There’s no good time of year to be experiencing homelessness.
It’s especially rough when you see other people celebrating and having family holidays – and you’re not even safe or comfortable.
While Orange Sky can’t solve homelessness alone, a load of fresh laundry and a warm conversation can make a real difference. When you support Orange Sky, you’re telling someone that you care. You help them in a really direct and human way.
— Lucas, Orange Sky Co-Founder & CEO
Donate Today
Unlike our traditional mobile laundry vans, which require people to come to a set location, the Pick Up Program brings services directly to emergency accommodations like motels. This approach makes it easier for families to access laundry services without needing to leave their accommodation.
Volunteers are divided into two teams: one team connects with families and children on-site, while the other transports and launders the family’s laundry at a nearby laundromat. This way, we can handle large loads and items like bedding within a 2.5-hour shift.
Local laundromats allow us to wash larger loads at a lower cost than mobile units, accommodating items like bedding that families in emergency accommodation often need cleaned. This also enables us to support areas where mobile laundry services may not be available.
You are very welcome to make a donation to Orange Sky by direct deposit to our bank account. Please call us on (07) 3067 5800 or email hello@orangesky.org to obtain our BSB and account number. We will generate a one-time individual reference number for you to use with your deposit so that we can easily identify your donation and forward a receipt.
Thank you so much for thinking of us for your kind donation! Unfortunately, due to our current capacity and resources, we are not able to accept, handle, or pass on donations of physical goods to our friends. We recommend getting in touch with another service provider in your area who may be better placed to store, sort and distribute items to people in need. You can also try searching Ask Izzy for local service providers.
Orange Sky has the status of a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR), and any gift of money or property to Orange Sky over the value of $2 is tax-deductible in Australia.