Ardmore, OK Apr 18: The LaundryCares Foundation in partnership with Too Small to Fail and Wash Bar Laundromat is excited to announce a collaborative initiative to promote early literacy in the Ardmore community. On May 20th, Ardmore residents are invited to a Free Literacy and Literacy Day event at Wash Bar Laundry, 2418 Purvis Drive, Ardmore, OK 73401. From 3-5 p.m., guests will enjoy complimentary laundry services, refreshments and engaging early literacy for children and their families. A ribbon cutting on the new Read, Play, and Learn Space will also take place. There are no limitations on the amount of clothing and linens that can be brought in for free washing and drying.
Throughout the afternoon, children can participate in story time and other activities organized by community partners including the Ardmore Public Library and The Ardmore Department of Public Health. The LaundryCares Foundation will also provide attendees with access to a free digital library through Vooks, a reading initiative that allows families to enjoy children’s books and corresponding activities right from their mobile device. In addition, all children will go home with a new story book courtesy of LaundryCares Foundation, as we recognize book ownership is one of the most fundamental ways to help children with early literacy skills and to instill a love of reading. “We are thrilled to be working with Wash Bar and to bring early learning to this community laundromat,” 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.
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.
