A safe and welcoming place for our city's most vulnerable.
Karin, Orange Sky Friend with an Orange Sky volunteer.
Painted in vivid orange and surrounded by the hum of friendly chatter, it really is hard to miss an Orange Sky van. That's the point says New Zealand’s Fundraising Manager, Katie Hart, "we want to make sure our mobile laundry service is eye-catching, easy to find and approachable.”
A world-first, Orange Sky was founded in 2014 when Brisbane-based best mates, Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett, were driven to find a solution that provided practical help, dignity, and a space for social connection to people doing it tough. Their first van called ‘Sudsy’ was the result of an idea to see if installing laundry facilities in a van would work and be useful for people experiencing homelessness. Seven years later there’s a 36-strong fleet across Australia and four services in New Zealand – providing free mobile laundry, warm showers and genuine conversations to the community.
A hub for social connection
We met Orange Sky parked up by Compassion Soup Kitchen on Tory Street; one of five locations from which they now operate since launching in Wellington City in 2019. There are six orange chairs out front ready to welcome visitors (known by the volunteer teams as 'friends'). This is so much more than practical support, it is a place to chat and connect, all the while loads of laundry whir in the background.
Every Orange Sky friend has a different story to tell, says Katie. "'Homelessness' can mean a lot of things. It is a complex issue and our friends come from many different types of situations. While some are between accommodation, others are sleeping out of cars, and some don't have access to hot water or a washing machine."
No matter the circumstances, Orange Sky is that friendly face willing to help.
A friendly face
For many, the true benefit of an Orange Sky visit is having someone to talk to. "There is no doubt that clean clothes and a warm shower make a positive difference, but our biggest impact is made through conversation.", says Katie.
"We are in the same place every week and Orange Sky shifts operate all year round," says Katie, "for some people, it may be their only constant – even if they are experiencing instability in other areas of their lives, they know that, at the same time every week, Orange Sky will be here to help and there to talk to."
Orange Sky friend, Karin.
Karin, who has been using Orange Sky services for a number of years shares her experience.
"I was on the streets years ago for a long time, and to have somewhere you know you can go for a shower, get your clothes washed and there is never any judgement, I think is a great thing. Nobody looks down on you, nobody talks down on you, they just treat you like everyone else gets treated.
To know that we have this here every Thursday is a real blessing. To come and talk to people who are totally welcoming and accepting of who you are is really good and important. It is the type of glue that holds the community together.”
Funding for growth
Since 2018, Orange Sky has provided over 7,000 hot showers, over 11,000 tonnes of washing and more than 17,000 hours of friendly, non-judgmental conversation to New Zealanders. With their latest van hitting the road in Christchurch in May 2022, Orange Sky New Zealand is growing fast, with funding and support playing a key part in its expansion.
Nikau Foundation was delighted to provide a grant totalling $7,500 to support Orange Sky's operational expenses, delivering services here in the Capital. "This type of funding is crucial for Orange Sky," says Katie, "it is through these kinds of gifts that we can continue to improve our services and reach more friends in need of support."
Next up? "We are hoping to offer more shifts in Wellington, including in locations such as Lower Hutt and Porirua," says Katie, "watch this space!"
Thank you to the Tindall Foundation and the Margaret Neave Endowment Fund for so generously co-funding this project.
