Chandler charity does laundry for homeless

The Clothes Cabin, a tiny volunteer-run Chandler charity that gives free garments and bedding to the poor, is now doing laundry for homeless people.

Founder and director Caryn Shoemaker said the service sprung from the non-profit's homeless clients who had to discard dirty garments and ask for new ones because there was no place to wash them.

"Nobody in the area was doing laundry for them," Shoemaker said.

Shoemaker said that for the past several months homeless people who wanted their laundry done have brought it in to the storefront at Alma School and Ray roads on Tuesdays and picked it up on Wednesdays. Skeptics told her that it wouldn't work. They were wrong.

"They always come back on Wednesday and are very grateful," she said.

Chandler City Councilman Kevin Hartke, who has launched city-wide efforts to help the homeless, said the laundry service "is a great idea. ... She (Shoemaker) is providing a unique service that makes a lot of sense. People who have lost their house still have their dignity and want to have an appearance that doesn't make people suspicious or look down on them."

Hartke said he knows of no other similar service anywhere in the Valley and is surprised others haven't thought of it. Although it might be challenging for any entity to do laundry for the homeless on a large scale, "I can see how it can be manageable on a small scale," he said.

Laundry isn't the only need at the charity's strip-center storefront. Although it is open for six hours on two days a week, and road construction is causing gridlock at the intersection, people are finding it. One day in November, 63 families came in for clothing, Shoemaker said. Children's clothing, socks and underwear for all ages, queen-size sheets and towels are in short supply. She is seeking donations.

The operation also needs volunteer help, and a Gilbert family responded last week. Melinda Murphy and daughters Mackenzie, 12, and Audrey, 9, spent several hours sorting clothing and bundling socks.

"We volunteer at different places as a family," Murphy said. "Our daughters have extra clothes like other people, and since we heard about the Clothes Cabin we have been donating them here instead of putting them out in bags for whoever picks them up."

She said the girls separated baby clothes according to size but had the most fun tagging pairs of socks and mittens together using a machine that binds them with a plastic tag.

"They loved that part. Now they've both asked for tagging guns for Christmas," Murphy said.

Shoemaker's children and grandchildren will join the volunteers this month.

Her son suggested to his three sisters that they all give a day at Clothes Cabin, volunteering with the seven little ones instead of exchanging gifts.

"They all heaved a sigh of relief and jumped on the idea. I'm thrilled," Shoemaker said.

The charity's beneficiaries are anyone who says they are unable to purchase needed clothing. After they register and show photo identification, they can select free items as many as five times a year. Adults are allowed six articles of clothing, socks and underwear per visit. Children get four clothing items, socks and underwear.

The non-profit, which Shoemaker started three years ago, has no paid staff, accepts clean, undamaged, new or gently used clothing and bedding. Many of the clients are referred by churches, domestic-violence shelters, schools and food banks, she said.