Free laundry service sees spike in use after fires but donations are running low

ASHLAND, Ore. — A laundromat in Ashland that provides free services to individuals experiencing homelessness and most recently also to wildfire victims has seen a big spike in those using the service and is running low on donations to fund the service.

Lisandra Miranda, manager of Henry's laundromat explained the need for the Laundry Love program is greater than ever before. She said the program saw a large increase in April because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and then experienced an even larger increase after the recent fires in the Rogue Valley.

“Last year I would say we saw about one or two people a day using the service,” Miranda said. “Now I would say on average it’s about six to ten people, it stays pretty consistent.”

Miranda said the program began by helping the unhoused population and after the fires in the area, it expanded to assist residents displaced by them.

“When you have clean clothes, you feel better about yourself, your confidence goes up, if you have clean bedding at night, it’s a comfort thing and nobody deserves to sleep in dirty bedding or have to wear the same clothes for a week straight,” Miranda noted.

The program is sponsored by a handful of organizations including Options for Helping Residents of Ashland (OHRA) and the Ashland Christian Fellowship.

“The resource center provides money and a church group also brings donations in but that has slowed down because they are not holding mass right now,” Miranda said.

She explained OHRA gives those in need two vouchers a month which are good for $15 of laundry use each. But this isn’t enough for everyone.

“We don’t want to turn anyone away, we don’t want fire victim’s money, they have suffered enough and if we can lighten their day and make it easier for them, some people have to choose between doing laundry or eating dinner that night and we don’t want that to have to be a choice,” Miranda said.

She explained the program relies on the public’s donations as well. Those donations have also decreased.

Miranda said residents who wish to donate can do so from Tuesday through Saturday at the laundromat on 1656 Ashland St. The program needs cash donations and laundry soap.

“Those two are really needed but people can also leave blankets, toiletries, and stuff like that, we have a table by the front door that is kind of like our free table where people can leave things or take what they need,” Miranda said.