Newswise — Wichita, KS (April 25, 2025) - The LaundryCares Foundation in partnership with Too Small to Fail and The Laundry Station Laundromat is excited to announce a collaborative initiative to promote early literacy in the Wichita community. On May 14, 2025, Wichita residents are invited to a Free Literacy and Literacy Day event at The Laundry Station, 555 S. Oliver Street, Wichita, KS 67218. From 2-6 p.m., guests will enjoy complimentary laundry services, refreshments and engaging early literacy activities for children and their families. A ribbon cutting on the new Read, Play, and Learn Space courtesy of Alliance Laundry Cares will also take place. There are no limitations on the amount of clothing and linens that can be brought in for free washing and drying.
Throughout the afternoon, children can participate in story time and other activities organized by community partners including the Wichita Public Library, United Way of the Plains, Storytime Village, Child Care, and University of Wichita Collective Impact. The LaundryCares Foundation will also provide attendees with access to a free digital library through Book Smart-World Reader, a reading initiative that allows families to enjoy children’s books and corresponding activities right from their mobile device. In addition, all children will go home with a new story book courtesy of LaundryCares Foundation, as we recognize book ownership is one of the most fundamental ways to help children with early literacy skills and to instill a love of reading. “We are thrilled to be working with Sharon Brinks and The Laundry Station and to have the support of Alliance Laundry Cares to accelerate early literacy in Sharon’s store,” stated Dan Naumann, EVP of LaundryCares.
Family Read, Play & Learn spaces, located in select laundromats nationwide, provide child-friendly and comfortable learning environments that promote school readiness and opportunities for parents/caregivers and children to engage in literacy activities together. These impactful programs are made possible through the collaborative efforts of the and which joined forces to create the Laundry Literacy Coalition, focused on supporting early language development in young children.
The LaundryCares Foundation works together with laundromat owners and community organizations throughout the United States to connect communities with literacy resources. Enrolling in the is free of charge and allows interested parties to actively contribute to the movement aimed at promoting early literacy for young children particularly in under-resourced communities. This initiative is the 2024 Library of Congress David M. Rubenstein Award winner: the nation’s most prestigious award for outstanding and measurable contributions to literacy.
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 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 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 .
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