Firefighters Team Up With Laundry Service To Help Local Families With Free Laundry as Costs Soar

Tampa Bay's Local 754 firefighters spent Saturday at Friendly City Laundry, washing clothes at no cost for hundreds of families in need.

The crew worked through piles of laundry alongside staff members. They washed, dried, and neatly stacked clean clothes as part of their work with the Laundry Project. With prices climbing, this effort gives families a break from one basic cost.

"Laundry is a basic necessity, and everybody deserves clean clothes," a firefighter said, according to Tampa Bay 28. "If you can get this covered, you can have a little bit of extra money to spend on other necessities, like groceries or school supplies, and not have to worry about sending your kids to school with clean clothes."

Thanks to Laundry Labs' gift of soap and supplies, workers cleaned about 850 loads. Their work stretched from morning until night, helping one family after another.

As costs keep rising, people find it a challenge to pay for basics. Simple tasks like washing clothes now strain many household budgets. This project steps in to lift that weight off their shoulders.

The timing marks one year since Hurricane Milton struck Tampa Bay. Many spots still show signs of the storm's damage, with fixes still in progress.

Staff will track the project's impact on local families. These numbers will shape plans for more work between fire crews and shops to boost community support.