Farense laundry launches project to deliver "lavadinha" clothes to those who need it most

Doar roupa a Instituições Particulares de Solidariedade Social é uma prática comum de muitas famílias, mas nem sempre esta roupa chega a quem depois as recebe nas melhores condições. Por falta de tempo, ou de lembrança, a roupa é entregue sem ser lavada e as instituições não têm condições para prepará-la antes da entrega. É para resolver este problema que a lavandaria BlueOn Faro, created the “Roupa Amiga” project.

Ricardo Mariano, Group CEO Timing, which owns the Blue laundry, and also coordinator of the Homeless Support Center (CASA) of Faro, was the mentor of this initiative that started on April 1st.

The entrepreneur explained to Sul Informação that the project “allows to bridge the gap between people who have clothes to give and the institutions that receive them. I noticed at CASA, that clothes sometimes don't come washed, they come dirty, but then we don't have great conditions to do the washing. What Blue will do is receive the clothes free of charge and, in the off hours, we will wash them and deliver them to the institutions already washed».

Anyone who wants to donate clothes, «instead of handing them over to the institution, they hand them over to Blue, who wash them and then distribute them. Any institution that wants to apply to receive washed laundry can contact us. This action is for any IPSS that wants to use this free service».

Ricardo Mariano explains that “if the clothes are delivered dirty and arrive at the institution dirty, it will also be dirty for the recipients. So, we're delivering dirty laundry to those we want to get their lives back on. We are setting the example that wearing dirty clothes is normal. If it's washed, people will appreciate it more».

According to the businessman, "most institutions are not able to deal with these donations, it is not bad will." In the case of Blue, «if I have a laundry, which we are equipping “largely”, why shouldn't we do it?”.

Blue, which opened its doors this year, at Rua Teresa Ramalho Ortigão, in Faro, is the group's new bet Timing, which acquired a laundry that «had its door open for 18 years, renovated and modernized it». According to the group, the objective for this year is to «consolidate the business» and, in 2019, «it will certainly be to expand to new geographies».

IPSS who want to apply to be a partner in this project, can contact the laundry via e-mail: [email protected].