Group does free laundry for Pinellas County families

CLEARWATER (FOX 13) - Laundry day got a lot better for some Pinellas County residents on Saturday.

A group of volunteers with The Laundry Project paid to wash and dry 300 loads of laundry at two Pinellas County laundromats, in an effort to help people still trying to get back on their feet since Hurricane Irma.

On Saturday morning, Vostelle Williams was surprised by the kind gesture when she walked into Fresh Start Coin Laundry on Roosevelt Boulevard in Clearwater.

"They said everything is free, go put all my soap and stuff back," said Williams. "Thank God that I did come here and chose to wash laundry today instead of tomorrow."

The Laundry Project was founded in 2008, to assisted low-income families in more than 24 cities across the country. Local volunteers extended the program to Tampa Bay residents who lost power after Hurricane Irma. The goal is to ease the financial burden on families still trying to recover from Hurricane Irma and unexpected expense that came along with it, like storm repairs.

"They're surprised that someone would actually do that. In these days, people don't do things just because, so when someone just offers a hand, not asking for anything in return, it's a blessing for everybody," said volunteer Bryan Boliard.

The free laundry service was also offered at Pete's Wash House on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South in St Petersburg on Saturday.

Volunteers are accepting donations of supplies or monetary donations to help continue the program.

Drop-off locations include:

Starbucks - 3409 W Bay to Bay Blvd, Tampa, FL 33629

Independent Bar and Café - 5016 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33603

True Grit Fit - 1505 W Cypress St, Tampa, FL 33606

Epic Bodywork & Massage - 4002 W State St #200, Tampa, FL 33609

Bandit Coffee Co. - 2662 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33712