Over 100 families in the Tallahassee community gathered at Wash Around the Clock for an afternoon of free laundry, food and books.
A line quickly formed as families who frequent the laundromat signed up for free laundry slots and entered a raffle. The event featured music by DJ Nate Bragg as well as complimentary laundry bags and dryer sheets provided by the LaundryCares Foundation, a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting early literacy.
Walk Around the Clock owner Dan Campbell explained that the event was designed to help close the literacy gap while giving back to the local community. A newly installed reading corner with books and toys donated by Scholastic was enjoyed by young children inside the laundromat while their parents did laundry.
“There’s often only one or two books per household in a home,” said LaundryCares Foundation Chairman Brian Grell. “If we can address book deserts and encourage children to go home and start reading, that’s really exciting.”
Leon County Superintendent Rocky Hanna attended the event and engaged with families as they washed and dried their laundry. For many, like regular customer Ivory Solomon, the event provided essential support.
“Not everyone can afford laundry so being able to do this and support my children is really great.” Solomon said.
According to Grell, this event was a “win-win” for the community, saying not many families get the chance to visit the library. Campbell echoed this sentiment, stating that he hopes to make books more accessible in places like laundromats where children spend their time.
Dan Naumann, executive vice president at LaundryCares Foundation, was thrilled with the turnout. “This is what we do,” he said, as nearly every machine in the laundromat was running.
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