| Established | 4 September 2014 [1] Operating since 10 October 2014 [2] |
|---|---|
| Founders | Nic Marchesi Lucas Patchett |
| Founded at | Brisbane |
| Registration no. | 85890622990 |
| Services | Free laundry for homeless |
| Website | www |
Orange Sky Laundry is a charity based in Brisbane, Australia that offers a free mobile laundry service for the homeless. It was established on 4 September 2014 [1] and began operations on 10 October 2014. [2] In January 2016 its founders, Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett, were awarded joint Young Australians of the Year for their social entrepreneurship. [3]
Marchesi describes himself and Patchett as "two normal everyday blokes who had a crazy idea". [4] 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.” [5] They took the name for their service from the Alexi Murdoch song "Orange Sky", which is about lending a hand to those in need. [6]
Orange Sky Laundry is a government registered charity. [1] The service is believed to be a world first. [4]
In February 2015, five months after they started with the first van in Brisbane in October 2014, [7] 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. [8] Similarly, in January 2016, they travelled to Victoria to provide laundry services to people affected by the Great Ocean Road bushfires. [9]
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. [10] 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. [11]
Orange Sky began operating its second van (in Cairns) by February 2015, [12] and its third in Melbourne in June. [13] Their first birthday, and World Homeless Day 2015, [2] were celebrated with a new service in south east Victoria, funded by partners The Good Guys [14] (who provided half of the funding for the van [15] ), the Jelley Family Foundation, and the Bennelong Foundation. [2] Other vans began operating in Sydney in November 2015, [6] [16] Gold Coast in January 2016, [17] Perth in February 2016, [18] [19] Adelaide in March 2016, [20] [21] Sunshine Coast in April 2016, [10] Canberra in April 2016, [20] [22] [23] and Hobart in July 2016. [24]
By July 2016, Orange Sky had 10 vans and 600 volunteers, and were estimated to be washing nearly six tonnes of laundry each week. [25] They now have 13 vans servicing 121 locations with over 800 volunteers. [26] As of September 2016 [update] there are services in all Australian states plus the Australian Capital Territory. [1] They have plans to expand to the US. [27]
On Australia Day 2016, the two co-founders were jointly named Young Australians of the Year. [3] 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". [28]
In June 2016 they were invited to Frankfurt, Germany to receive a Global Best Practices Award: Special Award for Corporate Social Responsibility. [29]
In October 2018, Orange Sky was given the People's Choice Award in the Google Impact Challenge Australia. [30]
On 23 August 2016, Orange Sky launched a new mobile service: free hot showers for the homeless. One of the homeless to first try the shower van described it as "bloody awesome". [31] The first van is being trialled in Brisbane, but will then be permanently moved to Melbourne as it was funded by the Shine On Foundation which is based in Melbourne. [32]
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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.
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