Over $5,400 was raised for two Treasure Coast nonprofits during the first quarter of 2022 through Sunshine Laundry Center’s Community Washer/Dryer program. Missionary Flights International received $3,702 from the five laundromats in St Lucie and Okeechobee Counties, and Catholic Charities’ Samaritan Center received $1,704 from the two laundromats located in Indian River County.
Sunshine Laundry Center donates 25% of the gross revenue from a designated washer and dryer to a local charity each quarter, totaling $18,332 in 2021.
“We had a record breaking year in donations from the Community Washer and Dryer Program in 2021,” said Tom Rhodes, co-owner of Sunshine Laundry Center. “We love it when our customers actually wait until the designated machine is free, so they can support these nonprofits simply by using that machine.”
The donation made to Missionary Flights International is in response to the 2021 earthquake that hit in the Southern Peninsula of Haiti. MFI flew in support of that earthquake, moving around humanitarian personnel, transporting individuals needing hospital care, and 100,000 pounds of supplies to aid in relief.
"Each week we are flying to Haiti, and so this donation continues to enable us to stand in the gap for those communities by flying affiliated missionaries transporting life-saving supplies and the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” shared Joe Karabensh, President of MFI.
"MFI is a unique opportunity for us," said Rhodes, "we normally are giving a donation that directly affects the community, but because many of our constituents are connected with Haiti or the Bahamas, we want to give to an organization that is making an impact in those countries as well."
Catholic Charities’ Samaritan Center mission is to offer transitional housing and guidance to homeless families in Indian River County and prepares them to live independently. According to Renee Bireley, Samaritan Center’s Development Manager, the residential facility for homeless families is a financial stability program focusing on “life skills development” such as parenting, budgeting, and education, with the primary goal of promoting and developing healthy family values and structure leading to successful re-entry into mainstream society while preventing homelessness.
“Catholic Charities’ Samaritan Center is so thankful and blessed to be chosen as Sunshine Laundries Q1 community washer program recipient,” said Bireley. “The donated funds will provide a month of food and beverage for homeless families as they are striving towards their self-sufficiency goals.”
The recipient for the second quarter of 2022 is the Safe Families For Children and all a person has to do to support the nonprofit is use the designed washer and dryer.
The hours vary at each Sunshine Laundry Center, with attendants available at five of the locations. All are open seven days a week and WiFi is available at most of the laundromats. For a list of locations and hours, visit www.sunshinelaundries.com. If your organization is interested in being considered as a recipient of the quarterly Community Washer & Dryer Program, visit www.sunshinelaundries.com/support.
Photo taken by John Lain: Tom Rhodes of Sunshine Laundries presents a check for $3,702 to Joe Karabensh, President of Missionary Flights International.
Photo taken by Maureen Nicolace: Tom Rhodes of Sunshine Laundries presents a check for $1,704 to Renee Bireley of Samaritan Center.
