Oakbrook Terrace, IL Apr 13: The LaundryCares Foundation in partnership with Too Small to Fail is excited to announce a collaborative initiative to promote early literacy and help families meet their needs through free laundry services on April 15, 2026. Residents in 32 participating communities are invited to the first National Free Literacy and Literacy Day. From 3-5 p.m., guests will enjoy complimentary laundry services and receive new books for their children as supplies last. There are no limitations on the amount of clothing and linens that can be brought in for free washing and drying.
Families in all participating sites will be able to wash and dry their clothes free of charge and have access to a free story book, courtesy of the Too Small to Fail Initiative, as well as a free digital library through Vooks, a reading initiative that allows families to enjoy children’s books from their mobile device. We recognize book ownership is one of the most fundamental ways to help children with early literacy skills and is essential to instill a love of reading. “We are thrilled to bring a long-held dream of offering a National Free Literacy and Laundry Day to help provide essential services and early learning to community laundromats across the country,” 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 LaundryCares Foundation and Too Small to Fail Initiative, which joined forces to create the Laundry Literacy Coalition, focused on supporting early language development in young children.
Participating cities include: Albuquerque, NM; Culver City, CA; Danville, VA; Clemons, NC; Durham, NC; Jacksonville, FL; Lakewood, NY; Malden, MA; Milwaukee, WI; Monticello, NJ; New Bedford, MA; Pasco, WA; Pearl River, NY; Pittsboro, NC; St. Petersburg, FL.; and Laundrolab locations in the following cities: Austin, TX; Burlington, Charlotte, NC; VT; Grand Prairie, TX; Houston, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Liliburn, GA; Mesa, AZ; Mesquite, TX; Oklahoma City, OK; Roseville, MI; San Antonio, TX; For details on specific sites please visit the LaundryCares website at www.Laundrycares.org
The LaundryCares Foundation works together with laundromat owners and community organizations throughout the United States to connect communities with literacy resources. Enrolling in the LaundryCares Network 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.
