Orange Sky, Lighthouse and St Alban’s Anglican Church Mooroopna Launch New Partnership to Support Community Amidst Cost-of-Living Crisis
By Amy Robinson, Executive Officer, Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project
AT the Lighthouse, we are acutely aware of the growing issues facing our community, especially for those facing financial hardship, and those at risk of, or experiencing homelessness. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has significantly impacted many community members, making it difficult for them to meet the most basic needs, such as washing clothing and household laundry.
Feedback from families who attend our Family Haven program in Mooroopna, along with insights gathered during Lighthouse’s 2023 ‘1000 Conversations’ community consultation process, has highlighted that accessing and affording laundry facilities is a significant financial burden for many families.
In response, Lighthouse and our longstanding partner, St Alban’s Anglican Church, have joined forces with Orange Sky Australia to provide timely support.
Orange Sky was established as a free mobile laundry service for people experiencing homelessness. The idea was formed by two 20-year-old mates, Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett in 2014. The pair installed a couple of washing machines and dryers in the back of their old van and visited parks around Brisbane to wash and dry clothes for free.
What started as an idea to improve hygiene standards and restore dignity to people doing it tough, quickly grew into something much more. Nic and Lucus realised that participants enjoyed the opportunity to chat and connect while their clothes were being washed. It was the conversation and regular connection that had the biggest impact. This connection was helping to combat issues of loneliness, isolation and poor mental health.
The success of Orange Sky’s expansion is built on the partnerships the organisation makes when entering a new community, and this is where Lighthouse and St Alban’s Anglican Church are the perfect fit.
Lighthouse has operated the Family Haven from Mooroopna’s St Alban’s Anglican Church premises (formerly the SPC Ardmona canteen) since 2020. The Family Haven is a prevention and early intervention space for young families and primarily caters for those experiencing complex social, emotional and health issues. Like the Orange Sky model, Lighthouse knows that Family Haven’s success lies in building connections in order to offer genuine and impactful support.
We are delighted to share that the Family Haven will soon be equipped with an Orange Sky pod which will contain two washers and two dryers. The goal is to have it fully operational by mid-October.
This partnership will see Orange Sky oversee volunteer recruitment and training, ensuring that the service is delivered effectively and safely. Meanwhile, Lighthouse is actively seeking local funding partners to cover the minimal ongoing costs of power and water for the laundry pod.
Together with St Alban’s Anglican Church, we are thrilled about this collaboration with Orange Sky, and we invite our community to get involved. If you’re interested in volunteering, please visit orangesky.org.au and register for the Shepparton program.
