Piedmont Church Helps Tornado Victims Clean Up With Free Laundry Service

Jacqueline Sit, News 9

PIEDMONT, Oklahoma -- Days after deadly tornadoes tore through our state, a church in Piedmont is offering Oklahomans a little bit of normalcy.

Becky Lowery and her husband were in their Piedmont home when the tornado tore through their neighborhood. They had only two minutes to race to the safety of their basement.

Lowery is grateful their lives were spared. Since the tornado hit, she's been busy cleaning the destruction left by the tornado; and that includes many trips to the laundromat.

"It's extremely expensive to try to wash clothes at the laundromat. We don't have electricity," Lowery said.

Freedom Church realized the dirty laundry was piling up for dozens of Piedmont families hit by the tornado, so the church decided to do something to help by offering free laundry services.

"We tried to contact the Tide loads of laundry that goes out, but they're still in Joplin," said church worker Michelle Eidson. "So we figured we could at least do this. Anything we can do to provide a little bit of comfort to those families and just to let them know they're loved."

After tornado victims drop off their clothes, the items are sorted. If they're covered with insulation, they're not salvageable. But those without go to volunteers like Jeanette Jones, who help with the washing and drying.

"It's been very emotional," said Jones. "We had some good friends but they're strong so anything we can do to help them is good. We'll do anything for our town."

The church needs volunteers to help with the laundry service. They also need donations of laundry detergent and dryer sheets.

Freedom Church is located at 100 N.W. Monroe. Starting Monday, May 30, the laundry center will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. for drop off, and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for pick up.

For more information, contact Freedom Church at (405) 373-0817 or (405) 315-0310.