Laundromat owner Samuel Van De Cruze wanted to do something nice for the homeless population in Queens, New York, so he spent every night for a week washing 1,000 pounds of laundry for those in need.
His efforts helped more than 75 homeless families save $5,000 in washing expenses.
As a former social worker, Samuel Van De Cruze realized that his business could offer immediate help for a mundane chore that took time and money away from those with the most need for it.
After Van De Cruze opened Mr. Bubbles Laundromat in Queens, New York recently, he saw for himself how homeless families struggled just to pay for their laundry needs.
Over the Easter week he picked up laundry every day from a local shelter and washed, dried, and folded it overnight, returning it by seven o’clock each morning.
His hope is that the free time he provided would allow them to find a job, go to classes, or look for a permanent home.
One resident at a local shelter had this to say about his act of kindness”
“Doing laundry with a three-year-old is always difficult for both of us. This (donation from Mr. Bubble’s) means that this week both she and I won’t have to go through that – and I will be able to save this $30 for something else.”
Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness can have the biggest impact on a person’s life.
