By Kirra Livingstone
ON August 8, Sunshine Coast Orange Sky volunteers celebrated 20,000 loads washed in the region since the organisation’s inception in 2016.
Maleny is the most used Orange Sky stop out of 10 other stops on the Sunshine Coast.
Orange Sky Sunshine Coast volunteer, Lesley Kelly, said the organisation’s washing service is important to
people sleeping rough or doing it tough.
“Our friends will make connections with our volunteers, and will come in to do their washing and have a chat with their favourite volunteers.
“Maleny is our busiest shift; we do an average of 11 washes, but we have done 14 to 16 washes in a shift.”
Chief operating off icer, Shayne Herriott, said Orange Sky’s recent research uncovered grim truths about people’s current living conditions.
“The Sunshine Coast is one of the top services in the country with what they are able to do, their impact and connection to the community,” he said.
“We’ve seen a 21 per cent increase in demand for our services since last year, and we know people are doing it tougher than ever before.
“Three in five people say they’ve made significant to moderate changes in their living situation, and
one in 10 Queenslanders have skipped a meal to pay a bill.”
Lesley added although 20,000 loads washed is an enormous feat, it is also an acknowledgment of the
volunteers’ hard work.
Visit Orange Sky’s site at the Maleny Neighbourhood Centre on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am to 12 pm.
