The work of our Charity Foundation is never without its challenges. We step in to fill gaps where the government can’t respond quickly enough. In war-affected communities that can’t afford to wait for budget allocations, we have to act fast, bypassing bureaucracy. Above all, our goal is to support and enhance the work of existing public bodies, like local social services and social protection institutions.
Reliance on Local Resources
In the Sadivska hromada, the municipal Center for Social Services provides care for older adults and people with disabilities. Its social workers became our essential partners, helping us spread the word about the new laundry through a campaign on the community’s website, social media, and during in-person visits.
Olha Horova, the social laundry assistant in the Sadivska hromada (Sumska Oblast), has been involved in the project from day one, from renovating the space to launching the service.
We also made a special effort to reach families raising children with disabilities. The laundry is especially vital for IDPs and for residents who have fled border communities. Because of the constant shelling near their homes, they often make short stops in the community and need access to fast, practical services.
The project’s core principle is to complement, not duplicate, the services of the existing municipal laundry. Our professional, high-capacity laundry equipment can handle items that are too much for standard household washers:
- Winter jackets and down coats;
- Blankets, throws, sheets, and full sets of bedding;
- Large loads of clothing that need to be washed right away.
As a result, community residents now have a comprehensive service that handles their heavy-duty washing needs, allowing the municipal laundry’s resources to be used more efficiently.
According to Olha, social workers generate about a quarter of the laundry’s use, regularly bringing in clothes and linens for the people they support.
But they aren’t the only ones. Each week, primary care nurses drop off gowns for local doctors and nurses. The Sadivska community is home to over 30 settlements, including seven schools and six kindergartens. When these educational and medical facilities need to wash large or bulky items quickly, they also rely on our service.
We also spoke with the community’s social workers, who see the laundry’s impact firsthand every day.
Maryna, a seven-year employee of the Sadivskyi Social Protection Center, heard about the laundry from her supervisor. Most of the people she helps are elderly women.
“We used to be able to wash only small things, and very few at a time,” Maryna says. “Now, we can bring in bulky jackets and bedding. People are so pleased and always thank us.”
Tetiana found out about the project on the village council’s website. During the winter, it’s hardest for her to reach the people she supports, some of whom live 4–5 kilometers away, but she covers the distance by bicycle in warmer weather.
She currently assists seven people who are alone and have no relatives.
“Being able to wash large items quickly is a real godsend,” Tetiana explains. “Things like jackets, blankets, and large sets of bedding are no longer a problem.”
The Improving Hygiene Access in Shelling-Affected Areas in Sumska and Chernihivska Oblasts by Installing Social Laundries project is funded by Polish Humanitarian Action (Polska Akcja Humanitarna, PAH) as part of its “Localization” project.