Loonies for Laundry initiative brings community together to support neighbours in need

Sawyer Dry Cleaning & Laundry Co. co-owner Jayden DesJardine and Exeter Lions Club vice president Marc Denomme show one of the donation boxes for the newly launched Loonies for Laundry initiative. The program supports individuals and families in need by providing access to free laundry services through local community partners.

By Meg Pearson

A new community initiative in Exeter is aiming to ensure that no one goes without clean clothes during times of hardship.

Sawyer Dry Cleaning and Laundry Co., in partnership with the Exeter Lions Club, launched Loonies for Laundry, a grassroots program designed to provide free laundry services to individuals and families in need across the region on Feb. 1.

The idea for the initiative came from Exeter Lions Club member and vice president Marc Denomme when he noticed an unhoused man taking shelter inside the newly renovated Sawyer Laundry on a cold December day.

Denomme contacted co-owner Jayden DesJardine, who welcomed the individual to stay warm. The moment sparked a conversation about accessibility and dignity, and how something as simple as clean laundry can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.

For those experiencing financial hardship, access to clean clothes goes beyond hygiene. It can mean the confidence to attend a job interview, the dignity of sending children to school in clean clothing or a small but important step toward regaining stability. While acknowledging that homelessness and poverty are complex issues, Denomme said the initiative is about taking a step in the right direction.

“Laundry shouldn’t be a luxury,” he said.

To launch the program, Sawyer Dry Cleaning and Laundry Co. and the Exeter Lions Club each contributed $600 to establish the initial fund. Every dollar donated goes directly into a fund and is used exclusively to provide laundry services for community members in need.

Loonies for Laundry has partnered with five local organizations that work closely with families and individuals in the community, including Precious Blood School, Exeter Elementary School, South Huron District High School, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Huron and Noah’s Ark. The organizations help identify those who would benefit most from the program and distribute punch cards that can be redeemed for free laundry services at Sawyer Laundry.

The goal is simple: one loonie helps provide one clean load of laundry.

Donation boxes have been placed at various locations around Exeter, and online donations are also being accepted at www.looniesforlaundry.ca. Community members are encouraged to donate any amount, with all contributions supporting local residents directly.

Sawyer Dry Cleaning and Laundry Co. is located at 342 Main St. S., at the corner of Main and Sanders streets. Co-owned by John Baker and Jayden Desjardine, the business opened in September in the former home of the Exeter Cleaning Centre. The owners later expanded into the former Exeter Music Centre to accommodate a full-service laundromat and a new café. The space has been fully renovated with a bright, modern design that brings new life to the downtown core. The laundromat features brand-new, high-end machines from Sweden that are both water- and gas-efficient. The largest washer is capable of handling up to eight loads at once, offering a time-saving option for busy families.

In addition to self-serve laundry, the business provides laundry services for long-term care facilities, hotels, and cottages, as well as a wash-and-fold service with free pickup and delivery through the Sawyer Laundry app. Pickup and delivery service areas include Exeter, Stratford, Goderich, Parkhill, and Lucan. A recent addition to the space is Sawyer Café, which opened Jan. 6 and held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Jan. 12.

The café offers a selection of espresso-based coffees, lattes, smoothies, and other beverages, along with baked goods supplied by White Squirrel Bakery, including pastries, cookies, and sweets.

DesJardine said plans are underway to introduce fresh, healthy lunch options, with items such as grain bowls and yogurt parfaits being added to the breakfast menu soon.

Together, the laundromat and café have quickly become a welcoming hub in downtown Exeter, combining modern amenities with a strong focus on community connection and care.