The Laundry Love Norwich chapter will be holding their first event on Wednesday, April 19 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Norwich Byrne Dairy laundromat. Services are completely free, and will be provided on the third Wednesday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m. (Sun File Photo)

NORWICH — A Chenango County resident has started a Laundry Love chapter in Norwich to give a hand to those who need it.

Laundry Love is a national organization that provides assistance paying for laundromat services in cities across the country.

"We partner with different laundromats across the country. So we basically pay for the washing and drying of people’s clothing, and it’s for anybody that just needs a little help," explained Laundry Love Norwich Organizer Shannon Wright. "There's no income guideline. So if you have a couple and they both have jobs, and they had like their car broke down so they’re short that week, we would help them with their laundry, too."

Wright said she once stumbled upon a Laundry Love event in Whitney Point, New York, and was inspired by the organization's mission. Now she said she has the time to actually get one started in Norwich, and has partnered with the Byrne Dairy laundromat to provide the free service.

Laundry Love events will be held on the third Wednesday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m., with the first event scheduled for Wednesday, April 19. Those that need assistance doing their laundry can just show up, sign in, and volunteers will provide detergent, dryer sheets, and quarters for them to wash their clothes.

"They come in, they register with us, they put their clothes in the washer, we put the money in. Then when their clothes are done washing they have to move the laundry to the dryer, we put the money in for that. We also provide all the detergent and dryer sheets," said Wright.

The Norwich Laundry Love is run entirely on donations. Wright said the overarching Laundry Love organization provided $100, detergent, and dryer sheets when she started the Norwich chapter.

Thanks to a New York City-based donor, the organization has plenty to provide the upcoming service this month.

"I had a donor from New York City call me. He gave me $400. He just happened to call Laundry Love the day I started mine and said he wants to donate to the newest one, which was me," said Wright. "Then I know definitely April’s not going to be a problem. So we've just got to keep thinking in the future."

Moving forward, it will be up to her and volunteers to solicit donations and keep the local service going.

A Doug's Fish Fry, bake sale, and 50/50 raffle to benefit the Norwich Laundry Love is scheduled for May 1 at Curtis Lumber in Norwich. Wright said she's also hoping to set up future fundraisers, such as barbecues at the Norwich VFW and Elks Club.

Additionally, monetary donations can be made any time on the Laundry Love Byrne Dairy Facebook page. All proceeds from Laundry Love fundraisers and all monetary donations will go directly back into the Norwich Laundry Love group.

"There’s not a fee that I have to pay to the main charity or anything like that. Anything that comes right to me gets all spent on laundry," said Wright.

The group will also accept donations of dryer sheets, but Wright said for now, they have enough detergent to keep them going for some time.

The Norwich Laundry Love is also looking for volunteers to assist with monthly laundry events as well as fundraisers. To sign up as a volunteer, message the Laundry Love Byrne Dairy Facebook page, or email Wright at cclaundrylove@gmail.com.

"If they were at the laundromat, really all they have to do is smile, be nice, and put quarters in the machine. And we’re always looking for people like for bake sales and all those other things we’re going to be doing," Wright said. "Outside of the fundraising, really it only takes you two hours out of the month to do it somewhere. It’s not a huge time commitment for the average person that wants to volunteer."

Although the Norwich Laundry Love is just beginning, Wright said she's already looking to expand into other Chenango County municipalities in the future.

"We’d like to start one in Oxford and Sherburne as well, but that’s going to depend on money," she said. With 21 total municipalities in the county, Wright said it will also take other individuals looking to run their own chapters in their towns. "If anybody in a town with a laundromat would like to start one, it’s a very simple process. I mean, because I can’t do every laundromat, there’s just no way. And Oxford is already willing to do it."

More information on Laundry Love can be found at LaundryLove.org. More information on the Norwich chapter of Laundry Love can be found on the Laundry Love Byrne Dairy Facebook page.