We sometimes take it for granted, but clean clothing improves self-esteem and confidence.
Especially at school, where there are high chances of students being bullied for their dirty clothes.
Jimmy Tomredle, a high school senior at Lacey Township High School in New Jersey, saw this firsthand when he noticed some students no longer went to school after being made fun of.
The reason? Dirty clothes.
As class president, Tomredle came up with an idea to install a washing machine in one of the rooms at their school.
This aimed to let the students wash their clothes independently, avoiding being teased for wearing dirty clothes.
“I thought bringing free laundry services would be beneficial,” said Tomredle in an interview. The project was more than a couple of years in the making.
The final steps were trying to procure the laundry machines.
After several letters and emails to businesses, he received a positive response.
The good news came from a local appliance store where he got himself both a washer and a dryer.
These were donated by Anchor Appliance from West Creek on March 20, 2023.
The machines were installed in May 2023.
Students have started using them in a private space inside the school.
The laundry shop is named “Tomredle’s Terrifically Tidy Laundry Services.”
The room also has free laundry detergent.
Tomredle made a speech to students and faculty members in the grand opening ceremony.
They were all rooting for his project.
Hoping also that other schools will be inspired to do the same when their local radio station publishes the news.
Tomredle’s inspiration came from Principal Akbar Cook of West Side High School in Newark, New Jersey.
The principal also installed washing machines and dryers after learning that students were harassed because of their dirty clothes.
Other schools have had these washing rooms already.
They are targeting homeless people and encourage them to use the laundry machines regularly.
These in-school laundry rooms have helped tremendously, removing the barrier of students who can’t afford to wash their clothes at home.
More students have used them, and so far, it positively impacted those who had gone to school with dirty clothes before this initiative.
They are no longer being made fun of.
But what’s unique about Tomredle’s washing service is that a student started a laundry.
Due to his keen observation of his fellow students, the laundry room came to fruition.
“Jimmy is just a ball of love and light. He has this energy and spirit about him,” Cayenne Mandes shared in an interview.
She also is the school social worker and Tomredle’s mentor for the project.
“You know, I’m always a positive kid,” shared Tomredle.
“This makes me feel proud,” he further added.
He’s aiming to attend Law school at Seton Hall University in the fall. Several teachers have agreed to pitch in to keep the laundry room in service even after he graduates.
Click the video below to learn more about Tom’s initiative!
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