A Brisbane duo who once made headlines for launching the world’s first free mobile laundry for the homeless have begun operating a complementary shower van.
Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett, the founders of Orange Sky Laundry, launched a trial for their first two-stalled shower van in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, yesterday, the ABC reports.
The van, which comes equipped with water tanks, on-board heating and grey water collection, was built with the help of $100,000 in funding from Shine on Foundation and $50,000 from Queensland Urban Utilities.
It offers an alternative to existing facilities available at charity drop-in centres.
"We want to complement the amazing work they are doing with a portable service," Mr Marchesi told the ABC, and said the existing showers are often “chokkers”.
The service has already proven a hit, with homeless man Dave Brum, 60, labelling the service “bloody awesome”.
"I walk everywhere and I often feel dirty. I can smell myself," he said.
“It is so great to have a real shower.”
Mr Marchesi and Mr Patchett have already launched 11 free laundry vans across Australia. Their charitable efforts have since seen them honoured as 2016 Young Australians of the Year.
Orange Sky intends to continue expanding both its laundry and shower services across Australia. A US rollout for the laundry van is planned for next year.
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