Washed With Love

08/18/2026

We've been riding the wave here....the heat wave! The end of last week we got very busy but I haven't gotten a call in 24 hours now. Junior Washed With Love said maybe we finally got all the dirty clothes in town clean. Mmm maybe but I hope it really means our community is standing back up again. I hope it means our neighbors have found somewhere to stay while their homes are rebuilt or that their home is habitable again. I hope it means the flood victims are regaining some of their autonomy and finding their new normal.
Whatever it means, we're here to help and will provide support as long as we're needed. 🥰

~Laura

08/15/2026

This has been a steady busy week. My boys went back to school Wednesday and laundry has been spinning right along. Last night and this morning we had a flurry of calls. Several of the families who reached out we met last weekend at the Resource Fair. I'm extra glad now we were able to throw some things together and attend. I need to double check, but I think all but one family from today already has all their stuff back. Racheal even washed some safety vests for another volunteer organization so they can go out this weekend.

I'm always saying everyone can do something helpful and a sweet stranger just proved it this evening. There are several things going on this weekend for flood victims and she wrote the events down on a folder and cut it into these strips. Then, she drove to houses she knew were affected and gave out the info strips to families. I happened to be outside when she pulled up to my house with a strip for me. How creative and thoughtful! It probably cost her $5 total for a folder and gas. Our community constantly amazes me with their kind hearts and ability to think outside the box.

~Laura

08/09/2026

Today was fun! And a little sad. We were invited to participate at the Flood Survivors Resource Fair. It was our first time to be asked to anything like this so we went and set up our table. We were in there with all the big statewide or national groups. Catholic Charities, Red Cross, Texas Legal Aid, Team Rubicon, Endeavors, San Antonio Food Bank, and us. I kinda felt like a little kid finally able to eat at the grownups table.

We had a day to make this happen. No signage (so we used the dry erase boards you guys bought us awhile back), no decorations (so we used laundry supplies as decorations and then gave them away), no items to hand out with our number (so we used the flyers and the blue laundry bags as handouts), and no idea what we were doing (so we made it up as went).

Betty and Keely volunteered to come help. They're original members from last year so I 100% trusted them to represent the group and what we're doing if I needed to step away for a bit. I arrived first and realized it was incredibly hot in there so Keely stopped by my house and grabbed a fan on her way.

We talked to so many families and individuals. Each one could be their own tale of surviving and overcoming. There were a few tears but overall, the mood was festive. If you didn't know why we were all there, you'd think it was a church social and everybody was visiting. I saw so many smiles and hugs. People swapped stories and exchanged information on available resources while they waited in line. It made my heart melt to witness the sense of community and strength that grew during the event.

One lady has been washing for her little apartment complex since the flood. She's been trying to be a good neighbor and help the other residents. I told her to call me and we'd get her supplies and to also call if she needs a break and we can help lighten her load. She follows our page so I know she'll see this so yall show her some love in the comments.

If half of the people call in the next few days who said they will, we're gonna be busy!

~Laura

08/08/2026

We're at the Resource Fair at City West Church until 2:00 today (Saturday). If you've been affected by the flood, please come by and visit with the groups that are here to help. You can also visit with me, Keely, and Betty.

08/06/2026

Cari and Heather are doing the big numbers this week. This is Cari's chart keeping up with how many loads she's done. She said she's got about 4 more loads to go and that family will be taken care of. Heather has a family very close to her that she's been washing for last week and this week. So far, she's done 7 loads this week. We've also had some single loads sprinkled in here and there.

For the out of town followers, we're having a cold front. The high is only going to be 94⁰. Time for the hoodies and sweats! 😂 I don't think I want to do this in January when it's cold but if the universe is taking requests, I'd formally like to nominate the beginning of November for the next disaster. Still warm enough to be outside but cool enough we don't sweat through our clothes walking back and forth.

I'm still trying to find someone for one of our families to alter a few things and hem some pants for their daughter before school starts. If we don't find someone soon, I'm gonna have to watch some YouTube videos and learn to sew. 🧵🪡

~Laura

08/06/2026

We've washed for a family who now needs a seamstress to alter some clothes for her daughter. She needs a little sewing and hemming done. Our seamstress just left for a week for vacation so I told her I'd help her find someone. Ideally, free or very low cost as they lost their house and she was in the hospital. Can anyone help? If so, I'll get your information to her.

08/04/2026

08/02/2026

I walked through 2 neighborhoods this morning passing out our information. I also gave a few homeowners some laundry supplies. A lot of the homes are empty and I could see through the windows that they've been taken down to the studs and foundation. Some houses looked like mine: floors are out and walls are cut out halfway up. I hugged a few necks and cried with a few people in their driveways. If no one was around I left fliers in hopefully noticeable spots. As a community, we are at the beginning of a long, long road. Thankfully, no one is making this journey alone.

08/01/2026

*We pause from our regularly scheduled program to update you on Mighty Heidi. 😁*
A few of you remembered we adopted Heidi last year and have asked about her this year. We still have her and she's still a clown and she still loves visiting with everyone who comes over. I was waiting until today to mention her because today is the 1 year anniversary of adopting her. Who adopts a dog right after a natural disaster?! Me. Lol
She's a big girl who doesn't realize she's a big girl and tries her hardest to sit in my lap. She got a little stressed and irritable right after the house flooded but she seems back to her usual goofy self. We are so thankful for our big ol' pound puppy and thank you for remembering her.