A Tillsonburg laundromat turns community support into something tangible
There’s something wonderfully simple about the idea behind Free Laundry Days at Loads of Laundry in Tillsonburg.
People who are struggling financially can come in and get their laundry done for free - and a local business, a church and other community supporters are helping make it happen. The next Free Laundry Day is Saturday, September 19, with North Broadway Church sponsoring the event.
Jessey Berni, who owns Loads of Laundry with her husband, says the idea actually came from North Broadway Church shortly after the laundromat opened in January 2025.
The Free Laundry Days have become a roughly monthly event, with several held since the program began, and the demand is evident long before the washers and dryers get busy.
The events generally begin at 10 a.m., but Berni says people can be waiting by 8 a.m. to get on the list.
She says the need can also be seen in smaller moments inside the laundromat - like customers who can afford to wash their clothes, but don't have enough money left to pay for the dryer.
Loads of Laundry helps make the Free Laundry Days possible by discounting the cost of starting the machines, while Jessey and her husband also provide things like soap, dryer sheets and refreshments. Community churches, nonprofits and other groups can get involved by sponsoring or helping with an event, depending on their budgets. North Broadway Church is sponsoring the September 19 event, and Jessey hopes the support will continue so Free Laundry Days can keep happening in the months ahead.
There is another new kind of balancing act in Jessey's life these days, too. She and her husband welcomed a baby girl on September 4. The laundromat is still running with the help of family, and Berni says she hopes to spend some time at the September 19 Free Laundry Day while also figuring out life as a new mom.
Ultimately, that's what makes her story about Free Laundry Days more than just free laundry. Jessey says she and her husband try to help when they see someone in need. Sometimes, she says, they've even started machines for people for free.
And then, she puts the whole idea of community support into one very personal thought:
That may be the simplest explanation of all for why a laundromat can become a place where a community takes care of its own.
Free Laundry Day is Saturday, September 19, beginning at 10 a.m. at Loads of Laundry in Tillsonburg.
Those who want to support future events can also contact Loads of Laundry here about sponsorship opportunities.
