Mobile shower service for homeless doubles efforts in pandemic
A free mobile shower and laundry service for homeless people has expanded its efforts in response to rising demand in the pandemic.
Orange Sky launched its second van in Auckland this week.
Operations manager Eddie Uini said the demand for services doubled during the Covid-19 lockdown.
“Before Covid hit our first van was doing nine shifts a week, once we got to level 2 we were doing 17 shifts a week with our first van,” he said.
“That’s pretty much our maximum capacity, and we were still getting emails from places further south, out west and on the North Shore.”
The new van will operate in Manurewa, Papakura, Glen Eden and Auckland CBD.
It will allow Orange Sky to increase its availability from 17 to 25 shifts a week.
Uini said a lot of families have starting using Orange Sky’s services in Manurewa, Papakura and Onehunga.
“If they can save another 20 or 30 dollars at the laundromat, that’s another 20 or 30 dollars for food on the table,” he said.
Orange Sky wants locals to name the new van in honour of a local hero who’s helped make a difference in the community.
Comment below your idea for what the new van should be called.
Lest we forget...
On this ANZAC Day, let's take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.
Tell us who are you honouring today. Whether it's a story from the battlefield or a memory of a family member who fought in the war, we'd love you to share your stories below.
Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?
We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
Do you think changes need made to the current process for building consent? Share your thoughts below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
-
91.3% Yes
-
8.2% No
-
0.5% Other - I'll share below!
Illegal dumping. See it, report it.
Call us on 0800 NO DUMP (0800 663 867). Illegal dumpers can be fined up to $30,000.