Red Oak LLP :: insurgency of love

We had our first Laundry Love Project in the Red Oak area tonight – specifically in Glenn Heights.

We had hoped and planned to do our first LLP in our neighborhood but we had some trouble communicating with the owner of the local laundry mat. So rather than force the issue we decided to do a surprise insurgency of love just a few miles north of us in Glenn Heights.

It was unannounced, non-advertised. We just showed up and offered to pay for people’s laundry as they walked in the door.

Most people were confused. Several asked if there was a catch. But all were thankful.

We helped 8 or so families, washed 15 loads of clothes and dried 16 loads. I had a great time getting to know some new friends — including Rodrick who wanted to talk wrestling the whole time he was at the Laundry Mat with his mom…. (and even showed us the Shane-O-Mac dance)…

And I enjoyed talking with Jose who’s spent the last 15 years here in the U.S. painting and refinishing tennis courts. He said they usually paint them one of three shades of green – but sometimes they get really off beat colors like blue and recently purple.

Jose also told me some about his wife, two children and two grandchildren who are still living in Monterrey, Mexico. He gets to see them once every few years or so.

I’m looking forward to hearing more and more stories as this outreach progresses.

For a brief overview – check out this great video that Jenn Hunt put together for us…

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Awesome!

Our next one is planned for the last Saturday of June. Want to join us? Perhaps host a Laundry Love Project in your neck of the woods? Find out more at redoakllp.wordpress.com or just4one.org.

Hopefully we can get a full OK from the Laundry Mat owner so we can continue building relationships with the people in this area. If not – perhaps we’ll try some other surprise insurgencies of love – shock and love.