Good Laundry tackles hygiene poverty while building community in Flint

FLINT, Michigan — Hygiene poverty is experienced when an individual is unable to afford basic grooming products and necessities. Implications can extend beyond physical appearance to self-esteem and mental health. In 2020, Miosha Robinson and her husband, Leo Robinson, discovered their unique call to target hygiene poverty in Flint. 

The couple planted Good Church at the beginning of a pandemic, when in-person services were not an option. They searched for ways to continue showing love to the community they care about. Serving meals became their method of fellowship and outreach.

“We took meals directly from suppliers into neighborhoods,” recalls Robinson, the Executive Director, when asked about the inspiration behind their impact. While residents were grateful, they openly acknowledged that food was a need already being overwhelmingly met by other churches and organizations in the area.

Back to the drawing board, Robinson and her team began assessing needs by speaking directly with schools in Flint. They began asking guidance counselors and teachers questions about the most common disadvantages they had seen among students and families. What they found was that families were being forced to choose between paying for clean laundry or electricity.

Families were unable to afford hygiene products like soap and laundry detergent. Many shared that existing laundry service options felt unwelcome, didn’t allow children, or were unaffordable after other household expenses. In response, school staff would offer to take home students’ clothing to wash for them. Robinson found that cities like Philadelphia and Chicago had already intentionally addressed hygiene poverty in their communities and felt the same call for Good Church in Flint.

Good Laundry, located at 1034 E Holbrook Ave, and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, is their nonprofit organization and community laundry service, rooted in connection and based on real conversations with the people of Flint. This became their response to a newly discovered need. 

When Robinson talks about Good Laundry, the focus quickly turns to impact and community because on a typical afternoon at Good Laundry, children can be seen freely playing while families wash clothes in a clean, supportive environment.

She recently spoke with Flintside about the inspiration behind their organization. 

Flintside: How does Good Laundry reflect the mission of Good Church?

M. Robinson: “We’re a church for all people. Everyone is welcome; we are a judgment-free zone. Our mission is to impact as many lives as we can with the love of Jesus. Once you cross the lines of the laundromat, we are all on the same level. I think almost every person that walks into the laundromat says, ‘I can live here’ because it feels that welcoming. We want to give our best. Even the floor is a masterpiece. That’s the love of God. He gives us his absolute best, and we want to strive to give our absolute best to the people we serve.”

Flintside: What does Good Laundry say about how other churches in Flint can respond to a community need? 

M. Robinson: “Ask. We asked the people what they needed, and they responded. People started talking, and they weren’t ashamed. I think an error of thinking in the faith-based community is that we are the ‘savior.’ We think we know what’s best. Many churches are in an era of wanting to be a buffet instead of an entree, offering many programs to fill many needs. We are laser-focused on hygiene poverty. That’s what we do well. When someone has a need that we don’t focus on, we point them in that direction.” 

Flintside: How can the community support Good Laundry? 

M. Robinson: “We are a nonprofit, so we are really in need of donations. We need laundry baskets, stain removers, and any type of hygiene or laundry supplies. We also take any gently used children’s books for children to use while they wait with their parents. One of the biggest ways the community has supported us has been with pre-loaded laundry cards. We’re cashless, so when people come in, they load a card at a kiosk and use it to operate the laundry machines. If someone comes in and they don’t have the money, there are cards already loaded.” 

Flintside: Is there anything else you might need from the community?

M. Robinson: “Beyond that, we ask any believers for prayer. We get people who need help and come from situations that we can’t turn our backs on. We believe that every encounter is divine, so when someone comes through our doors and they’re struggling with something, it’s on us to help. There are so many battles fought because we are more than just a laundromat. That’s our tagline, more than just clean clothes. If you have anything that you’re struggling with, we’re going to make sure you have resources before leaving.” 

Donations to Good Laundry can be made online. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are highly encouraged to ensure a washing machine and dryer are available. You can call 810-230-4682 or go online to schedule an appointment.