Dad, Kermit Williams, pulls out his freshly-washed load of clothes during the free "back-to-school wash" day event at Davis Bros. Laundromat. (DorMiya Vance/WABE)
Schools in Metro Atlanta are starting classes, and parents are preparing their children to go back.
And the one thing on many people’s lists? Picking out their outfits for the first day.
Just off Fairburn Road, multicolored flags wave as the sun beams down on Davis Bros Laundromat. The business, which is about two months old, hosts an event to ensure kids have clean clothes.
It was the first time the laundromat offered a free “back-to-school wash” for families in the Ben Hill community.
“This one actually came in handy because I had been out of work for a while,” said Kermit Williams, a dad who brought his daughter, Kailani Williams, to do a few loads of laundry before she heads back to school. “Things had gotten pretty tight, so like I said, this came in really handy.”
Kermit Williams pulls out his load of freshly-washed clothes and preps them for the dryer. (DorMiya Vance/ WABE)
The free wash day was a partnership between staff at the laundromat and Atlanta nonprofit, 3D Girls, Inc.
“Families are stretched on time, on resources, on money, and so not everybody has the capacity to purchase brand-new items for school,” said Raioni Madison, founder of the organization.
“Part of getting ready for school is getting that laundry done, making sure that, you know, kids have a fresh start to the new year. So it was just like a unique idea.”
During the event, kids pick books from a stand set up by the staff, and also receive backpacks with school supplies, such as notebooks and pencils. Kailani Williams says she was also given a toy.
3D Girls Founder Raioni Madison and Program Facilitator Maya Estepanos speak with a student before offering a free toy along with school supplies. (DorMiya Vance/WABE)
“[It’s] a scribble, scrubby little cat, which means you can draw on it with markers so they scrub it down so you can scribble on it again. I thought it was pretty cute,” Williams said.
Davis Bros. staff say the recently opened laundromat is meeting a need for Ben Hill residents. Before, the closest laundromat was about three miles away, near Greenbriar Mall.
“You have to have clean laundry, and, you know, that shouldn’t be considered a luxury for anybody,” said Nicole Davis, co-director of Davis Bros.
“We know that this community needs it and deserves a quality laundromat that is put in this community because we care about the community. Not just because it’s an opportunity to make money, but we’re invested in the community.”
Even after classes are in session, Davis Bros. staff say, they hope to serve more residents as they continue community outreach in the area.
