Being able to comfortably wash and dry your clothes goes beyond daily chores. It’s a matter of basic dignity, self-care, and the ability to maintain cleanliness even in the most challenging conditions. That is why one of our laundries in Lebedyn operates within a dormitory (temporary accommodation facility) that now serves as a temporary shelter for displaced persons.
The dormitory’s residents are the primary users. As part of the project, the space underwent basic repairs and was equipped with two washing machines, two dryers, detergents, cleaning kits, and special laundry carts. Our Foundation also covers the community’s utility costs.
Despite their own difficult circumstances, the residents support one another, helping elderly or disabled neighbors get to the laundry and carry their linens. The laundry attendant, Svitlana Moiseienko, assists them, maintaining order and helping anyone in need.
The facility is most frequently used by internally displaced persons from the Krasnopilska, Myropilska, and Khotinska communities — people whose homes have been destroyed or remain under constant threat. However, the services are also available to local residents who may lack adequate sanitary conditions at home.
Artem, 20, came from the Khotinska community with his brother and grandmother after the mandatory evacuation:
“We’ve been living in the dormitory since April. They immediately helped us get IDP status. We’ve already used the laundry. It’s all very convenient: you drop off a bag of clothes and later pick them up, clean and dry.”
Albina, a local resident, works as an academic secretary at an educational institution. She had long heard about social laundries in other communities and dreamed that one would finally open in Lebedyn.
“The first thing I brought was a huge blanket. I simply had no other way to wash it. Now, I bring my large items here from time to time. It’s always fast, convenient, and there are no queues.”
In a city that endures regular shelling, something as simple as the ability to wash clothes offers real relief from daily anxieties. It represents a small step towards stability, order, and a feeling of security.
On average, the facility handles up to six loads per machine each day. This means that up to 12 people, five days a week, can leave with clean, dry clothes, and a renewed sense of hope.
The Improving Hygiene Access in Shelling-Affected Areas in Sumska and Chernihivska Oblasts by Installing Social Laundries project is is funded within the framework of the “Localization” project of the Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH).