Free laundry marks 2 years helping those in need

FINDLAY — The mission of the Olive Branch Free Laundry is to take dirty laundry and turn it into clean clothes. Over the past two years, that has amounted to a mountain of unsoiled garments, according to Jim Freel, board president of the laundry mission. The laundry, located in St. Andrew's United Methodist Church's annex at 214 W. Sandusky St., celebrated its second anniversary Thursday. As of this month, the service has helped 1,280 clients with 2,320 loads of laundry. A family equals one client, Freel explained. "We do the equivalent of probably 10 to 12 weeks of laundry in a week," he said. He said the people who use the laundry are grateful. "We're not asking for anything other than they go out of here with some clean clothes," said Freel. The facility is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Clients can do two loads at a time. "And if there's nobody here, they can do two more or whatever they need," he said. "If there's somebody behind them, then they get back in the que. With that in mind, we know we're serving the ones that really need it." Freel said the idea first came up about five years ago when members of the church's visioning committee began discussing ways to utilize the facilities, including the annex which is located just west of the main church. "It's needed out there, and it's not a duplicate of any other service," he said. Some renovations had to be done before the laundry could open, he noted. There was no water supply to the laundry center, the electrical outlets needed to be changed and the floor replaced. A plumbing problem also cropped up which delayed the opening. Money was donated to get the project started. Freel said Associated Charities provided a grant for the mechanical items type things like the water line, and The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation awarded a grant for staffing. Other donations came from organizations, people and businesses. St. Andrew's United Methodist Women held a plant sale and donated the proceeds. The laundry opened in March 2024. Two new commercial size washers and dryers donated by Whirlpool were available for clients to use. "People started out thinking it was just for the unhoused, but we'll serve anybody that needs it," said Freel. "Maybe rather than not having a meal or getting their medicine, we can provide this which is free entirely." "All they need to do is bring their dirty clothes and stick around while they do them," he said. In January, a board was formed that now includes five additional churches besides St. Andrew's. "Which it's a community service," said Freel. "It's not just St. Andrew's." The boar secretary is Sherri Federici, and Julie Zitkovic is the treasurer. The laundry is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. until the last load of laundry goes in at 3 p.m. "It would be great if we were operating five days a week. We would go more days if we were filled up," he said. "We know how many loads we can do, and we're not near that capacity on a regular basis." At first the church worked with the City Mission to provide a staff member to be present. In November, the board Tom Fees as a permanent laundry attendant. Donations are accepted. Checks, with "Laundry Service" written on the memo line can be dropped off or mailed to St. Andrew's. Tide pods are also accepted, he said. "And we would love if people would like to volunteer. We say for three hours, but if they would come in for half an hour or an hour and sit and talk to the people, they would be amazed at this group," he said. "It's an eye-opening experience. And when they do it, they most generally come back and do it again."