It all began in Ventura, Calif., where a homeless man by the name of Eric “T-Bone” was asked what service would make a daily impact to him. He responded, “If I had clean clothes I think people would treat me like a human being.”

Laundry Love was born through the efforts of Greg Russinger. The initiative works to provide the human dignity T-Bone requested through clean clothing and linens. A partnership forms between Laundry Love and laundromats to provide laundering services free of charge to low- or no-income households. The organization began in 2003 and since then, Laundry Love has helped an estimated 3 million people and many of those are in Kansas. More than 287 laundromats nationwide participate in this program with 100,000 people being served annually.

Ericka Lysell, of Lindsborg, who graduated from the University of Kansas, has been in social work for decades. It was she who helped found the Lindsborg chapter of Laundry Love.

“I have a friend that is a part of the laundry love program in Salina,” Lysell said. “She gently persuaded me that it could be a helpful thing for the Lindsborg community.  I approached Pastor Chris Deines with the idea and we thought it could be something that Bethany Lutheran could help with in regards to storing supplies and monitoring the finances.”

The Bethany Lutheran Church took up the cause and they now faithfully serve as many as 60 people each day they provide the service.

"I am so thankful for a community that supports this program by donating financial means and laundry supplies," Lysell said. "We have created our own family at laundry love and turned it into a network of support for one another."

The program provides people an opportunity to have clean clothes at no cost. They provide the supplies such as detergent and dryer sheets, and we also then pay for the washing and drying. Clean clothes are very important when it comes to how people are viewed in the world. There is no proof of income provided, nor is anyone singled out as having a need. Everyone who attends will get three loads of laundry washed and dried with laundry supplies such as detergent and dryer sheets provided. Snacks and drinks are available as well.

The program has grown exponentially all over the state and each location needs donations and assistance. 

To learn more about the Laundry Love initiative and how to start a branch, visit https://laundrylove.org/.

Kansas Laundromat Locations

Salina Area (3 locations)

Quick & Clean

• Address: 1515 W. Crawford, Salina, KS 67401
• Phone: (785) 452-2929
• Email: debbiec.rivers@gmail.com
• Hours: 12:00pm - 4:00pm (4th Saturday of each month)

Speedy Wash

• Address: 514 E. Iron, Salina, KS 67401
• Phone: (785) 452-2929
• Email: salinashares@gmail.com
• Hours: 6:00PM - 9:00PM (3rd Tuesday of the month)

Missing Sock

• Address: 2013 S Ohio, Salina, KS 67401
• Phone: (785) 452-2929
• Email: salinashares@gmail.com
• Hours: 9:00am - 12:00pm (4th Saturday of the month)

Central Kansas

Lindsborg Laundry

• Address: 304 E. Lincoln, Lindsborg, KS 67456
• Phone: (785) 822-8619
• Contact: Ericka Lysell
• Email: erickalysell@gmail.com
• Hours: 2nd Saturday 12:00pm-2:00pm

Highlander Laundry Mat

• Address: 1307 NW 3rd St., Abilene, KS 67410
• Phone: (785) 643-1188
• Contact: Holly Walker
• Email: laundrylove67410@yahoo.com
• Hours: 3rd Thursday of the month (6:00 pm to 8:00 pm)

Laundry Basket

• Address: 200 S Mill, Beloit, KS 67420
• Phone: (785) 302-9645
• Contact: Janea Peters
• Email: jpeters@mitchellcountyrmf.org
• Hours: 3rd Thursday of Each Month (3:00 pm to 8:00 pm)

Laundry

• Address: 1548 Lincoln Street, Concordia, KS 66901
• Phone: (785) 243-1977
• Contact: Chelsea Hake
• Hours: 1st Wednesdays 8:30am-10:30am & 3rd Wednesdays 4:00pm-6:00pm

Giant Laundry

• Address: 430 N Adams, Hutchinson, KS 67502
• Phone: (620) 200-5209
• Email: emaw1123@gmail.com
• Hours: On hold due to Covid

Sunshine Laundry

• Address: 1800 W 1st, Newton, KS 67114
• Phone: (316) 284-5181
• Contact: Peace Connections
• Email: info@peaceconnections.org
• Hours: 1st Thursdays, 6pm to 8pm

Suds Y'r Duds

• Address: 1453 Anderson Ave, Manhattan, KS 66502
• Phone: (785) 531-0577
• Email: krystin.guggisberg@gmail.com
• Hours: 5:00pm - 9:00pm (2nd Tuesday of each month)

Discount Laundry #2

• Address: 924 Jefferson St., Great Bend, KS 67530
• Phone: (620) 793-2019
• Contact: Vicki Richardson
• Email: vrichardson3@gmail.com
• Hours: 3rd Saturday of the month (10:00 am to 2:00pm)

Wichita Area (2 locations)

Express Laundromat Lavanderia

• Address: 1750 N Broadway St, Wichita, KS 67214
• Phone: (316) 204-9492
• Email: laundrylovewichita@gmail.com
• Hours: 5:00pm - 7:00pm (1st Thursday of the Month)

Spring Clean Laundromat

• Address: 416 N Ridge Rd, Wichita, KS 67212
• Phone: (316) 722-8504 / (316) 683-9480
• Contact: Daniel Reffner (316) 722-8504 / Ann Elsworth 316-655-5543
• Email: daniel@aldersgatechurch.org / laundrylove316@yahoo.com
• Hours: 4th Tuesdays 6:00pm to 8:00pm / 6:00pm - 8:00pm 2nd Tuesday of each month
• Note: This location appears to have two different operating schedules/contacts

Eastern/Southern Kansas

Laundry Land

• Address: 622 East Street, Emporia, KS 66801
• Phone: (620) 343-6800
• Contact: Brenda Kirk
• Email: bkirk@newmanrh.org
• Hours: 3rd Thursdays 9am - 12pm

Santa Fe Laundromat

• Address: 1309 Broadway St, Larned, KS 67530
• Phone: (620) 792-2403
• Contact: Charell Owings
• Email: unitedwaycentralks@hotmail.com
• Hours: Last Wednesday of each month (4:00 pm to 6:00 pm)

27th & Hall St Laundromat

• Address: 507 West 27th Street, Hays, KS 67601
• Phone: (785) 623-2800
• Contact: Macey Pfeifer
• Email: mpfeifer@firstcallelliscounty.com
• Hours: 3rd Thursdays 4:00PM-7:00PM

The ClotheSpin

• Address: 505 Market St., Osage City, KS 66523
• Phone: (785) 528-4443
• Contact: Michael Turner
• Email: laundry@osagecityumc.org
• Hours: Last Wednesday of the month (6:00 pm to 8:00 pm)

Legendary Laundry

• Address: 798 E. Main Street, Gardner, KS 66030
• Phone: (785) 212-0142
• Contact: Amanda Peters
• Email: amandamaypeters@gmail.com
• Hours: 2nd Saturdays 9:00am-11:00am AND 3rd Tuesdays 6:00pm-9:00pm

Get The Funk Out Laundromat

• Address: 104 S 4th St, La Cygne, KS 66040
• Phone: (816) 301-8795
• Contact: Allie Lohman
• Hours: Second Saturdays 10am - Noon

M. Koehn Beech Street Laundry

• Address: 705 Beech Street, Coffeyville, KS 67337
• Phone: (620) 249-1481
• Contact: Carol Foister
• Email: carol@frcpittsburg.org
• Hours: 2nd Wednesdays 1pm - 4pm, and 4th Wednesdays 4pm-7pm

The Laundry Basket

• Address: 212 South Ozark Street, Girard, KS 66743
• Phone: (620) 704-3945
• Contact: KC Shane
• Email: kshaner@chcsek.org
• Hours: 2nd Wednesday and 4th Saturday 10am - 2pm
• Note: Dates and location are subject to change. Please look for their flyer or reach out to KC for more information.

Total Kansas Locations: 22 laundromats across the state

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