Orange Sky Stories
Every day around Australia, Orange Sky volunteers pull out our six orange chairs on shift and sit down for a chat with friends. Many people visit shift out of necessity to wash their clothes or have a warm shower, while others simple come along to connect with their community.
Genuine and non-judgemental conversations are at the core of what we do, and while sometimes we get into the serious stuff, most of the time it's just every day people talking about every day stuff (and of course, some friendly banter!).
Stories from Shift
Audra’s Story
After finding herself sleeping on trains, access to free laundry has been a huge help for Audra, but like many others who access Orange Sky services, it's the genuine connection that keeps her coming back each week.
"Being homeless is my situation. It is not who I am."
"[The volunteers] are incredibly good human beings. Sometimes I'll just come and talk to them even when I've got no washing or I don't need a shower.
Sometimes that is more than the washing and the shower... it makes you feel like you're human."
Eve's Story
Eve can only imagine what it would be like to have just one set of clothes. But on her Orange Sky shift in Sydney, she meets people every week who are living that reality.
“Some people literally take the clothes off their back, go into the robe, and then have a shower… and their clothes are being washed and dried, ready for them to put on again. They have one set of clothes.”
That simple act - providing clean clothes, a warm shower, and a fresh start - restores something deeper. “It’s dignity… to feel clean, to feel valued,” Eve says. “One woman… she’s so clean and neat and tidy. You would never know that she slept at a railway station.”
Eve loves being able to show up for people who are too often overlooked - and it’s that genuine connection that keeps her coming back, week after week.
Angela's Story
The rising cost of living has made it harder than ever for people doing it tough to get by. For Angela, who juggles caring full-time for her daughter, Lacey, and supporting her elderly mother, every dollar counts. Weekly chores like washing clothes, something many of us can take for granted, can feel like an impossible mountain to climb for people like Angela.
“I’ve been coming to Orange Sky with my daughter and mother every week for three years. We live just four doors up the road from the Orange Sky shift, so it’s really convenient for us. Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without it.”
