JORDAN Wallace was burnt out and had quit her job as a nurse when she became a volunteer for Orange Sky Laundry.
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The mobile laundry service for people experiencing homelessness was founded in Brisbane in late 2014 by then 20-year-olds Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett. It has operated in Newcastle since 2017 and recently upped its shift load to nine per week.
Ms Wallace's decision to "get paid in love" as a volunteer who works 20 hours a week as the not-for-profit's Newcastle service manager has been rewarding.
"I wear many hats but that's the best thing about working here, you are never stuck doing the one thing," she says, adding that the volunteering provides the interaction with people she has missed as a nurse.
The Orange Sky van in Newcastle is nicknamed Hunter. It travels as far north as Nelson Bay and as far south as Belmont and has regular stops so those living rough can use its machines.
The ages of clients varies from the young to the elderly.
"It's not just the homeless sleeping rough, it's people doing it tough, like families who can't afford a washing machines," Ms Wallace says. "There are so many people sleeping in cars around Newcastle, it's mind-blowing."
While Orange Sky Laundry is a service, the "real magic" comes in the conservations between volunteers and their clients, referred to as friends, as they wait for washing.
"We never question their circumstances, everyone is a friend, and we say the most important thing we have is the six orange chairs near the van, because people can sit down and make connections," says Ms Wallace.
"Some people don't get an opportunity to talk to anyone because they are avoided on the street. It takes a few shifts for people to build trust - often that bag of washing is all they have, so to hand it over is a really big step."
Orange Sky is in need of more volunteers in the Hunter [enquiries can be made via its website].
Co-Founder Mr Marchesi says it has launched a Social Impact Washing program where "friends" are paid to do commercial contracts. Its clients include the Newcastle Jets.
