Local business Orange Sky has grown from one laundry van in Brisbane to 29 services across Australia. Orange Sky offers laundry services and hot showers to people affected by homelessness.
Orange Sky volunteers met Sharon when they launched their most recent service in Cairns. Currently living in her car, Sharon is in the fastest growing demographic of Australians experiencing homelessness: women aged over 55. Sharon says, “Sometimes I get a bit embarrassed about being a grandmother and being homeless. A lot of people do kind of see it as your own fault. I find these services really vitally important for me. And they have helped me to feel a bit more confident about it and not be so down on myself.”
Sharon appreciates the practical support Orange Sky offers through clean laundry and warm showers, as well as the opportunity for connection and genuine conversation that often has the greatest impact. “Chatting away, seeing happy faces, no one looking down on you and discriminating. Quite a few of the volunteers have remembered my name from last week when I was here which made me feel very happy in my heart because I didn’t really think they would remember me.”
Without the volunteers and donations, people like Sharon would not have the opportunity to sit on the six orange chairs and connect with dedicated volunteers. But there’s still so many of the 116,000 Australians experiencing homelessness that haven’t been reached yet. And to reach them, Orange Sky are asking for your support. Your support will provide more than clean clothes and warm showers – it will provide a place where friends feel welcome and can reconnect with their community.
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