KANSAS CITY, MO, July 12, 2023 – The LaundryCares Foundation is excited to announce a collaborative initiative with U. S. Ventures at the Mega Wash Laundromat to address the literacy gap in the Kansas City, MO community. On July 12, 2023 we invite the residents of Kansas City, MO to join us at Mega Wash, 5642 Troost Avenue, for a Free Laundry and Literacy Day event. From 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., guests will enjoy complimentary laundry services, refreshments, and engaging early learning activities for children and adults. There are no limitations on the amount of clothing and linens that can be brought in for free washing and drying.
A highlight of the event will be the unveiling of a new Read, Play & Learn space at Mega Wash, which will provide children with access to early learning and literacy-rich materials while their caregivers attend to their laundry needs. To commemorate this important addition, local leadership, U.S. Ventures and and staff, the Kansas City Public Library and Turn the Page KC will preside over a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3:00 p.m., officially inaugurating the Read, Play & Learn space. Following the ceremony, the Kansas City Public Library will lead a story hour and book giveaways for kids and early literacy activities will take place.
Throughout the afternoon, children will have the opportunity to play educational games, participate in reading activities, and receive a free book from Scholastic® . The Laundry Cares Foundation will also provide attendees with access to a free digital library through World Reader, kicking off a summer learning initiative that encourages children to read 20 minutes each day and 25 books in the summertime.
Read, Play & Learn spaces, established in select laundromats nationwide, provide child-friendly and comfortable learning environments that promote school readiness—an essential need often unmet in underserved communities. These impactful programs are made possible through the collaborative efforts of the LaundryCares Foundation and Too Small to Fail, who joined forces to create the Laundry Literacy Coalition, focused on supporting early language development in young children.
The LaundryCares Foundation works hand in hand with laundromat owners and community organizations throughout the United States to connect communities with literacy resources. Enrolling in the LaundryCares Network is free of charge and allows interested parties to actively contribute to the movement aimed at bridging the significant child literacy gap prevalent in historically excluded communities.
For more information about the LaundryCares Foundation and its initiatives, please visit laundrycares.org.
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About the LaundryCares Foundation
The LaundryCares Foundation is dedicated to enriching communities through the coordinated efforts of local businesses, community leaders and individuals to help better the lives of their neighbors. Since 2006, LaundryCares’ three pillars of philanthropy include offering free laundry services, support of key literacy skills in early childhood development, and disaster relief assistance.
The LaundryCares Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Coin Laundry Association (CLA) a national, nonprofit organization, with a membership of more than 300 manufacturers and distributors, and 1,500 owners in the self-service laundry industry. For more information about the LaundryCares Foundation, visit laundrycares.org.
About Too Small to Fail
Too Small to Fail, the early childhood initiative of the Clinton Foundation, promotes early brain and language development by supporting parents and caregivers with tools to talk, read, and sing with their young children from birth. Today, almost 60 percent of children in the United States start kindergarten unprepared, lagging behind their peers in critical language and reading skills. Through partnerships with pediatricians, hospitals, faith-based leaders, community-based organizations, businesses, entertainment industry leaders, and others, Too Small to Fail is meeting parents where they are to help them prepare their children for success in school and beyond. Whether at the pediatrician’s office or the playground, Too Small to Fail aims to make small moments big by creating opportunities for meaningful interactions anytime, anywhere. Learn more at www.toosmall.org.
