Rockford’s 5-alarm coin laundry grows with grant aiding seniors, students

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford’s 5-Alarm Coin Laundry opened a new location on North Mulford to provide those in need with a weekly free laundry day.

Molina Healthcare presented a $50,000 grant to the facility to help expand the “Fresh for Learning” program and launch the “Fresh for Seniors” program.

The programs aim to provide K-12 students and seniors with opportunities to wash their laundry for free. These programs are in partnership with the Rockford Police Department and inclusive public services communities.

Supporters said the goal is to help the community maintain personal hygiene and build confidence.

“This program was important to me because it initially started as a truancy initiative; it was a program to help keep kids in school,” said Rockford Police Officer Patrice Turner. “I found that a lot of students were not attending school when they didn’t have fresh uniforms to wear, so that’s why it started, but it’s really turned into so much more than that. Now we’re just here to help in general, it’s really great, we love it.”

5-Alarm Coin Laundry has two other locations on West Riverside Boulevard and South Alpine Road. Those locations are open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday.