Laundry Love, a nationwide program dedicated to providing free laundry services to low- and no-income families, has expanded to Ellinwood in 2024. This significant growth is thanks to the continued partnership between United Way of Central Kansas and Sunflower Bank. For the first time, Ellinwood USD 355 has been selected as a pilot program to extend Laundry Love’s reach to school counselors and family engagement coordinators, ensuring students in need have access to clean clothes.
“Ellinwood doesn’t have a laundromat, which makes it difficult for families already facing challenges,” said Becca Maxwell, United Way of Central Kansas President, and Ellinwood Sunflower Bank Community Development Officer. “We wanted to start this program here to help our students and families directly. By partnering with our school counselors, we can get laundry detergent packets to the kids who need them the most. It’s about more than just clean clothes – it’s about giving them dignity and confidence.”
Sunflower Bank continues to play a pivotal role in Laundry Love’s expansion, providing both volunteers and financial empowerment resources for the families served and educational support to help clients better manage their finances. Since the program’s inception two years ago in Barton County the United Way of Central Kansas has helped facilitate over 1,500 loads of laundry for more than 450 individuals in need. Their contribution to the program includes hands-on assistance at laundry events.
Ellinwood’s inclusion in the Laundry Love program was inspired by a story from last year, when Charell Owings, United Way of Central Kansas Executive Director, received a call from the Barton County Health Department. A family from Ellinwood Grade School had lost their home to a fire and had several loads of clothing that needed to be washed. Owings met the family at a local laundromat, where they filled every washer and dryer twice, completing 80 loads of laundry in a single day. This moving experience underscored the need for a more permanent solution for families in Ellinwood.
“We’re always looking for ways to help our community, and the success of Laundry Love in Barton and Pawnee counties showed us what was possible,” said Owings. “This is a natural next step – bringing the program to schools and making sure no student feels embarrassed because they don’t have clean clothes.”
Through this pilot program, 35 packets of laundry detergent have already been distributed to USD 355. Sunflower Bank employees will continue to volunteer each quarter to assemble these packets, ensuring that families in Ellinwood have access to basic hygiene and the chance to brighten their lives through clean clothes.
Laundry Love’s national reach is also bolstered by its partnership with EarthBreeze, which has donated over 1.3 million loads of detergent to support the program’s efforts. Together, these organizations are making a tangible difference in the lives of those struggling financially, offering dignity and hope through the simple act of laundry.
Maxwell added, “We’re proud to see Ellinwood taking part in this program. It’s about helping our neighbors, lifting each other up, and showing that no matter how small the act, it can make a big impact.”
Laundry Love is not only cleaning clothes but also helping build a stronger, more compassionate community.
