Press and Pubilcations
Loving through Laundry
This year, ShareFest partnered with Wilmington Community Organization and participated in a new type of project. It wasn’t about revamping, refurbishing, rebuilding or beautifying. This project was specifically about connecting with people in the communities we’re serving.
At four laundromats throughout Wilmington, volunteers from churches like New Hope South Bay and charities like Just One put quarters in washing machines and provided soap for residents who showed up to do their laundry.
Just One started this type of project years ago and has consistently hosted it at laundromats in other areas for three years. They call it Laundry Love.
“This is just a small way of touching the community but to uncover some of the deeper needs. That’s what the whole purpose of Laundry Love is. We wash clothes but build relationship with community to find out what they need,” Derrick Engoy, who ran one of the projects, said.
Just One’s concept is to have a consistent time and place where volunteers and the people they serve start to get to know one another.
It made a perfect partnership because this idea mirrors ShareFest’s goal of relating to communities and tailoring specific solutions to needs.
After the project was completed Saturday, each location will be assessed, and leaders from Wilmington, Just One and ShareFest will decide whether they want to continue this project and at which laundromat.
“It’s about building relationships,”Engoy said.
For more stories about the Workday, visit http://sharefest.wordpress.com/
For more pictures from the Workday, visit http://www.flickr.com/sharefest
