About Orange Sky
Orange Sky is a non-profit organisation providing free mobile laundry and shower services to people experiencing homelessness.
20-year-old best mates Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett started Orange Sky in 2014, installing two washing machines and dryers in the back of their old van. They named the van ‘Sudsy’ and headed around the streets of Brisbane to help improve hygiene standards for people doing it tough.
Nowadays, each week thousands of volunteers give their time to help positively connect some of the 122,494 Australians who are doing it tough. The focus is on creating a safe, positive and supportive environment for people who are too often ignored or feel disconnected from the community.
By raising funds through Walk The Walk, you will be providing loads more laundry, showers and genuine conversations, as well as helping to keep our vans on the road. We currently operate in 39 locations across Australia - but we need your help to reach more friends in need.
Where We Are
Help Orange Sky continue to support communities doing it tough.
Meet Betty
Betty has been visiting Orange Sky in Brisbane for over nine months to access our laundry services, however for her, Orange Sky is more than just practical support.
"When I was living in my car, I felt very unsafe. I was never comfortable, I didn't feel secure, like you do when you have a home. I could never sleep properly, I was always alert. It's not a great way to live.
Coming to Orange Sky's services is very inviting. Even if I can start washing my clothes at my new home, I think I would still come to Orange Sky to chat and catch up with the volunteers. I feel very grateful that there are so many charities that have been there to help me."
How your fundraising helps
Our Services
Funds raised through Walk The Walk supports Orange Sky's free laundry and shower services in 39 locations across the country.
Our Volunteers
Your support ensures that volunteers are able to provide a space for conversation and connection at over 300 shifts every week.
Our Friends
By Walking the Walk, you are bringing us closer to our goal of supporting 40,000 friends in Australia and New Zealand by 2025.
Other Ways We Support Our Community
Community Recovery Support
Orange Sky supports people and communities impacted by natural disasters or other unexpected life events. In times of crisis, we are there to support where and when it’s needed most.
Remote Communities
15 of Orange Sky’s services operate in remote Australian communities. In partnership with local organisations, we aim to bridge challenges with laundry access and costs, and support employment opportunities for First Peoples.
Laundromat of the Future
We partner with amazing laundromats who are keen to support Orange Sky’s mission by allowing our service to regularly run from their location. It’s about creating bigger impact, but in a more efficient way.
Social Impact Laundromat
Located in Adelaide, the Social Impact Laundromat operates just like a regular laundromat, but all funds go towards supporting our free mobile laundry and shower services across Australia, allowing us to help more friends doing it tough.
Volaby
We built our very own volunteer management platform, designed to streamline the onboarding, rostering and recording of volunteering operations – allowing amazing organisations in the not-for-profit world to do more with less.
Innovation & Imagination
From building our largest ever vehicle in less than a day, to creating the world’s first solar and battery-powered 'Waru' dryer (pictured above), we’re passionate about finding new ways to support our community.
