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Laundromat Project Cleaned Up Englewood

By Wendell Hutson | October 17, 2014 7:58am
 More than 400 loads of clothes were washed for free on Oct. 16, 2014 at an Englewood laundromat as part of Chicago Ideas Week.
Free Wash Day
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ENGLEWOOD — The "Laundry Project" on Thursday washed 403 loads of clothes for 45 residents, according to Jason Sowell, president and executive director of the nonprofit Current of Tampa Bay Inc.

Longtime Englewood resident Annie Tyler arrived at the laundromat at 1:30 p.m. to ensure she would get free washing and drying service.

"I had seven loads [of clothes] between me and my daughter and got everything washed," said Tyler, 58. "Normally I spend $40 to do laundry. I will put the money I saved in church on Sunday because this was truly a blessing."

The free wash day at Wash & Relax Laundry, 1153 W. 69th St., began at 3 p.m. and was supposed to run until 7 p.m. but instead ended at 6:30 p.m.

"We went through a lot of people in a short amount of time," he added. "I would love to do this once a quarter in Chicago starting next year."

Total cost for the wash day was $800, which was $200 less than the last free wash day in July when 508 loads were washed, Sowell said.

"I'd say $500 was spent alone using quarters for the washing machines," he said. "I want to thank our Chicago partner raise.com for helping us fund this project."

Auburn Gresham resident Dea Shaw, 52, washed four loads for free and said she plans to spend the $30 she saved on her two grandchildren this weekend.

"The staff treated everybody really nice and provided excellent customer service," Shaw said. "People say nothing goods happen in Englewood. Well, they're wrong because what happened here today was a good thing."

The free wash day was one of several initiatives produced as part of Chicago Ideas Week.

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