September 9, 2024

Good Laundry: A Flint church’s answer to hygiene poverty

A smiling group poses at a ribbon cutting, with two people holding large gold ceremonial scissors. All wear blue tshirts that say love, life, laundry, more than just clothes. — Good Church leaders and community supporters cut the ribbon for Good Laundry on Aug. 29 after planning and fundraising for four years. Photo: Jenifer Veloso

Having access to clean clothes does more than boost someone’s confidence. It also helps adults secure steady employment and keep their kids in school.

That’s why Pastor Leo Robinson and his wife, Miosha, knew it was important to open a laundromat inside Good Church on Flint’s north side.

Good Laundry was born out of a mission to meet the community’s needs. Good Church members focused on providing hot meals during the pandemic, when schools — a vital source of meals for many children — were shut down. While distributing food, the church discovered another pressing need: access to laundry facilities.

The brick exterior of Good Church has banners that say Good Laundry, more than just clean clothes and love, life, laundry. — Good Laundry is located at 1034 E. Holbrook Ave. in the lower level of Good Church. The laundromat’s entrance is in the back of the building. Photo: Jenifer Veloso

“In talking with residents, we realized that many apartments had non-functioning washers and dryers, and the closest laundromat was miles away,” Pastor Robinson said. “This wasn’t just inconvenient. It was a barrier to daily life.

“Children were missing school because they didn’t have clean clothes, and adults were missing work for the same reason. Hygiene poverty is a real issue in our community, and we knew we had to do something more.”

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation granted $80,000 to the United Way of Genesee County to support the buildout of Good Laundry. Located at 1034 E. Holbrook Ave., Good Laundry will officially be open to the community at the end of September.

Diana Harris, a Flint resident and mom of three, is excited to have Good Laundry in her neighborhood.

“Laundry days are like an event in my house — a dreadful event,” Harris said. “I have a washer, but it’s old. I have a house full of people and bigger items I need cleaned, so having spacious washers and dryers will be so helpful.

“Being able to wash your clothes and be clean makes a difference on whether you are going to show up to something or not.”

A man wearing a tshirt that says a kid from Flint looks down at a blank white table while gesturing expressively with his hands. The wall behind him has large block capital letters that say love life. — Pastor Leo Robinson shares the vision behind Good Laundry while giving a tour. Robinson hopes that, when residents come to the laundromat to wash clothing, they also form relationships with volunteers and other residents to help lift each other up. Photo: Jenifer Veloso

Good Laundry has a total of 17 commercial washers and dryers in a 3,000-square-foot space. The Robinsons expect that, each week, the facility will serve 120 families that live within a four-mile radius of the church.

“If residents rely on public transportation, the distance, cost of transportation and time is a burden,” Pastor Robinson said. “By offering a closer, affordable option, we can lift some of that burden.”

Community Impact

It’s more than just clean clothes. The facility also will serve as a hub for community engagement and support. Residents can access various services while waiting for their laundry, such as resume writing, tutoring and parenting classes.

“One of our goals is to build relationships and trust,” Pastor Robinson said. “When people come to do their laundry, they’re also connecting with volunteers here. It’s not just a person — it’s a relationship.”

A couple poses arm in arm. They wear tshirts that say love, life, laundry, more than just clothes. — Pastor Leo and Miosha Robinson pose in Good Laundry’s entrance. “More than just clean clothes” is the guiding sentiment behind Good Laundry, as staff and volunteers hope to provide residents with not only washers and dryers but other critical resources. Photo: Jenifer Veloso

Harris wasn’t sure about a laundromat inside a church when she first heard the idea, but she said it now makes perfect sense to her.

“What better way to wash your clothes than where you can also get prayer and fellowship? They do a lot of good things for the community,” she said. “It’s not just about laundry. It’s also about the support and resources they offer.”

By partnering with local schools and other organizations, the Robinsons hope to extend their impact further.

“Absenteeism in schools was a big problem because kids didn’t have clean clothes,” Pastor Robinson said. “We’ve heard stories of counselors washing clothes for students just so they could attend school. We hope this facility can help change that.”

A man signs a bare wood pillar in a laundromat. — Community supporters write uplifting messages on the wooden beams inside Good Laundry. The space also includes couches and chairs for resting, a children’s activity table, and adjustable tables for working or folding laundry. Photo: Jenifer Veloso

Members of Good Church originally thought they would purchase a couple of washers and dryers and help the community. But they soon realized a bigger vision.

“It’s a mission now — not just a want,” Pastor Robinson said. “We’re excited to see the positive impact Good Laundry will have on Flint and hope it can be a model for other cities facing similar challenges.”

To learn more, visit goodchurch.life/goodlaundry.