LA GRANDE — A program helping the unhoused in La Grande to do their laundry is expanding to provide time for the less fortunate to clean their clothes at no cost.

The Loads of Laundry program, which provides free vouchers for laundry services for unhoused people, is now operating at Sudz It Up, 2001 Adams Ave., La Grande, after relocating from another laundromat in town. At Sudz It Up those with Loads of Laundry vouchers can wash and dry their clothes from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

An attendant is on duty to provide free detergent and insert quarters in the washers and dryers being used by those with vouchers, according to Sandy Ryman, a Loads of Laundry leader.

Previously, those with vouchers had to go to another laundromat that had an attendant on duty just one day for two hours a week.

“That means we can expand the time for the unhoused to do their laundry from two hours per week to 28 hours per week,” Ryman, a member of the La Grande United Methodist Church, said about the new location.

Ryman credits Jamie Challis, the owner of Sudz It Up, formerly known as Bubbles Laundry, with allowing Loads of Laundry to expand the number of hours. Ryman said Challis is the one who is making attendants available 28 hours a week to help those with the vouchers.

“We are so appreciative of what Jamie has done to make this possible,” Ryman said, adding the expanded hours will give more people on opportunity to use the Loads of Laundry voucher program.

Vouchers will be issued on the basis of need. In many cases, vouchers will be issued based on how many are in their family. For example, a family of four might receive four vouchers, Ryman said.

Loads of Laundry started in early 2023 and is a collaborative program that, in addition to Sudz It Up, involves the La Grande United Methodist Church, Community Connection of Northeast Oregon and the Center for Human Development.

Sanday Ryman founded Loads of Laundry with help from Cilla Coe and Becky Preston, also members of the La Grande United Methodist Church.

People can apply for free Loads of Laundry vouchers at Community Connection of Northeast Oregon’s Union County Senior Center, 1504 Albany St., and at the Center for Human Development’s drop-in center, 2206 Jefferson Ave.