REGINA — Sask. wildfire evacuees staying in Regina now have a place to get their laundry done for free.
The effort is a collaboration between Men of the North (MOTN) and Seaspray Laundry, located at 3439 Dewdney Ave.
“In the face of uncertainty [for] many evacuations across northern Saskatchewan. Men of the North has stepped up to support our communities, not just with words, but with action,” said Christopher Merasty, MOTN program director.
Sherry Vester, manager at Seaspray Laundry, said it's about supporting people in need, just as anyone would hope to receive help during their own difficult times.
“I would hope somebody would be there for me,” Vester said.
So far, Seaspray Laundry is handling 80 loads of laundry from wildfire evacuees between MOTN and additional efforts from Rally Around Homelessness.
MOTN allocated funding from their summer yard youth mentoring program towards helping those evacuating wildfires in Sask. with laundry, said Merasty.
Over the past week, the group has been helping roughly 400 evacuees in Regina receive hygiene kits, meal gift cards, towels and socks, toys, and more.
“[This is] about bringing comfort, dignity, and connection to those who need it the most,” he said.
MOTN operats out of La Ronge. The group and many others evacuated the northern community last week as wildfires rampaged through the area.
“It's been difficult, it's been hard seeing friends, families struggling, and there's only so much that we can do,” said Merasty.
For any wildfire evacuee needing help, Merasty emphasized that people know they aren’t alone.
Seaspray Laundry said any fire evacuees bringing in clothing need to identify themselves to an attendant that they’re an evacuee.
“We [then] ask that you place your load in the washer, and we'll put some soap in there and start it up. We [also] ask that you promptly move it to the dryer,” said Vester.
Merasty said funding towards free laundry will continue until the wildfire situation up north improves.
