LAWRENCE, Ind — Every Tuesday morning at a local Lawrence laundromat, the line forms early.
"They start lining up around 6 a.m.,” said Robert Earl, who has often joined them himself.
They’re thankful not just for the washing machines, but especially for the many hands inside that are standing ready to do it for them.
"We’re doing the laundry for all the people that come by,” George Bueltmann said. “And it’s free.”
What began five years ago as a small ministry through the Servants of Christ Church has grown into a huge helping-hand for the community "IN-Lawrence."
Each week, volunteers help about 50 families in just a few hours — many who don't speak English.
When you count mom, dad and kids, that means clean clothes for well over 100 neighbors in need.
"We get a lot of laundry done in a short period of time,” Bueltmann said.
"Laundry & More" is a volunteer event hosted by the church every Tuesday from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. The main goal is to help provide for those in need in Lawrence.
At the event, families are able to wash their clothes and bedding at Post Road Laundry for free.
“We do a lot of things with pantomime,” Bueltmann said with a smile. “But it works.”
Earl has been coming to the weekly events since they began.
“This place helps a whole lot,” Earl said. “Clean clothes make you proud of yourself. You feel that glow, and it wouldn’t be possible without all these people coming in."
Tuesday morning, the mission work evolved into a full-fledged nonprofit organization called "Laundry & More."
Not only do volunteers help pay and wash these families' clothes and bedding, they also offer much more to them like meals and clothes.
"If people are living in poverty and need help with the laundry, they probably have a lot of other needs, too," Bueltmann said.
Representatives from the Marion County Health Department, Mayor’s Office and other organizations helped set up tables to offer additional resources, including health care, housing and jobs.
"We hope this 'Laundry & More' will go to forever," Bueltmann said. "It's not gonna stop."
For more information on the weekly event in Lawrence, click here.