FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JULY 1, 2021 • HEALTH • THE QUEENS COURIER 27
health
Pop-up laundry service off ers free wash
and dry to Jackson Heights community
BY DEAN MOSES
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Th e Laundry Project encouraged those
in need to share their dirty laundry on
Th ursday, June 24.
Residents of Jackson Heights were treated
to quite the shock when they rolled up
their dirty clothes to Laundrybee on
71-16 37th Ave. Prepared for another
slog at the local washateria, they instead
found a group of smiling volunteers who
off ered to pay for both the cleaning and
drying.
Maria Acuna travels throughout the
United States with fellow volunteers setting
up free services that pay for unsuspecting
launderette users to enjoy
a free wash and dry in low-income
neighborhoods.
Th is service is designed to not only
relieve the fi nancial burden that accumulates
with heavy loads, but
also to promote the good
nature of humanity by aiding
in what can be a menial and
laborious task.
“Today for three hours
anybody who comes in,
we pay for their laundry,
and we also provide soaps
for them to use as well,”
Acuna began, sharing
her enthusiasm.
“I feel like it is a little light during all the
craziness of the pandemic. And laundry
can be so expensive, especially if it is for a
big family,” Acuna added.
According to the Laundry Project, more
than 170,000 loads of laundry have been
washed for approximately 17,000 families
in more than 600 projects nationwide.
As Queens locals began to trickle in,
they were left shocked and thankful for
the service, even rushing back home to
grab more loads. A superintendent of a
local apartment building swift ly spread
the word, understanding that the service
would be a vital one for many in the
community.
Jesus Rodriguez said that this initiative
is not only so helpful due to the fi nancial
alleviation, but also a great relief due to
the time it saves.
“I was walking by, and I saw it. I have
three bags and I am rushing here there
and everywhere,” Rodriguez told Schneps
Media. “I don’t make much money so this
is a big help.”
Acuna and her team say that these are
the types of interactions that make the
whole experience worth it and continue
to inspire them.
Laundry Project prefers not to promote
their pop-up events beforehand, instead
creating a series of happy accidents for
the unaware.
“One time I had a lady come in with
two shopping carts and had no idea that
she was going to get her laundry done.
When we told her, she started crying —
it was a beautiful thing,” Acuna said. “She
was with a lot of kids, and she said she was
debating whether she should do her laundry
or go out to eat.”
Maria Acuna and fellow volunteer Everett Apple.
Photos by Dean Moses
Maria Acuna shares the good news to a customer that
his laundry would be washed free of charge.
Jesus Rodriguez was grateful for the Laundry Project’s help.
Maria Acuna (right) surprises a Queens resident with a free laundry service. Acuna pays for a customer’s laundry to be dried.
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