Anaheim Schools Offer Free Laundry Service

The Anaheim Union High School District's board unanimously approved the partnership with local businesses Superior Laundry and LaundryUp to provide nearly $9,000 in free laundry vouchers to students and their families. This initiative is designed to support the "whole student" by addressing essential needs outside of academics. Students identified by the district's community schools team can receive laundry cards preloaded with credits, as well as detergent and fabric softener. Some schools will also offer free drop-off and pick-up services, further removing barriers for students to have clean clothes. Kenny Perez, the district's community schools manager, stated, "We believe that protecting a student's dignity is essential to their success, it is difficult for a young person to focus on education if they are worried about basic necessities like clean clothes." The program aims to help students attend school with more confidence. This program in the high school district follows a similar initiative that was launched to support younger students in the Anaheim Elementary School District. The current program for high schoolers is set to run through December 31, at which point it will be evaluated for a possible extension based on student needs. Nationwide, a lack of access to clean clothes is a significant driver of student absenteeism. Studies by appliance manufacturer Whirlpool's "Care Counts" program, which provides washers and dryers to schools, have shown a correlation between clean clothes and improved attendance rates. In one study, over 90% of students in the program improved their attendance, averaging 6.1 more days in school. Teachers also reported that 95% of participating students showed increased motivation in class and were more likely to participate in extracurricular activities.