by: Payton Steiner
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – For five years, ShowerUp Wichita has helped people experiencing homelessness by offering free showers. Now they have a new service to offer.
Hygiene is often overlooked in homeless outreach.
“We all know that feeling of putting on clean clothes and getting out of a shower and feeling clean. It’s a lot more than just feeling clean,” said Coordinator Brady Roberts, who has been with ShowerUp Wichita for years.
Roberts realized after five years of showers that it didn’t go far enough.
“As you get to serve people, you come to realize, people get to shower, but they’re putting dirty clothes on,” he said.
Their solution debuted on Sunday.
This rolling laundromat, comprised of donated machines, can be a game-changer for somebody living on the street, but it’s about much more than a clean set of clothes.
“‘Dignity’ is the word, man … there’s a fear of a loss of dignity,” Roberts said.
They aim to break the cycle of homelessness one shower and a load of laundry at a time.
“If handing somebody a meal is like a handshake, you’re starting a relationship with them, then allowing them to take a shower or do laundry is like giving them a hug,” Roberts said.
ShowerUp’s services are free. Guests are provided with a clean towel, toiletries, and they often have new socks and underwear.
For those who need ShowerUp’s services, the nonprofit has an online calendar that lists the mobile unit’s location and schedule. You can often find them stationed outside of Church on the Street, 445 N. Market St., on Sundays from 9 to 11 a.m.
Anyone interested in volunteering or donating can visit ShowerUp.org.
This article was republished here with the permission of: KSNW-TV