Join #StrongLove's Global Initiative

One of the most meaningful volunteer experiences I’ve ever had was with an initiative called Laundry Love. What began as a small local church mission has grown into something with the potential for global impact. The concept is simple yet powerful: visit laundromats to offer free soap, dryer sheets, and pay for the laundry of families and individuals in need—many of whom are experiencing homelessness.

During one event, I met a mother and her young daughter who spoke very little English. While their clothes washed, I played games and sang songs with the little girl. Later, her mom shared something that moved me deeply: her daughter didn’t have any friends in their neighborhood because of the language barrier—until that day. I had become her first friend.

That moment opened my eyes. It showed me that connection doesn’t require words—just kindness, presence, and the willingness to include others. Even something as ordinary as a laundromat can become a space for hope and healing.

That experience inspired the foundation of my international service plan: expanding the mission of Laundry Love and using the platform of Royal International Miss to mobilize delegates around the world. Laundromats are universal resources—found in nearly every community. With a little creativity and compassion, they can be transformed into safe, welcoming environments for families—especially those facing hardship.

Through a simple, three-step approach, anyone can create meaningful change by selecting a local laundromat to support, hosting Laundry Love Days, and building spaces where children can play and families feel seen. The program includes culturally inclusive games, bilingual materials, and personal engagement—reminding families that they are not alone.

Each volunteer becomes a leader in service, a bridge across cultures, and a champion of dignity. Together, we’re turning laundromats around the world into places of belonging—one soap pod, one smile, and one strong act of love at a time.

Our plan begins with awareness and education. Volunteers and community leaders work together to create and distribute informational materials designed for both laundromat owners and fellow supporters. These packets explain the mission of #StrongLove, highlight how laundry access impacts unhoused families, and share tips for making laundromats more family-friendly. To ensure accessibility, we encourage bilingual content—especially in communities with non-English speakers.

We also gather cultural insight from volunteers around the world to better understand which games and activities are comforting and familiar to children in different regions. This helps us build tailored resource kits filled with language-free games like puzzles, Uno, and Connect 4, as well as bilingual books and culturally relevant coloring pages. These items help children feel included, safe, and seen—regardless of language.

In the second phase, volunteers adopt a laundromat in or near their community. They use a pre-designed template to outline their campaign, donation needs, and goals, which can be printed or shared digitally. Each campaign is personal, grassroots, and focused on building a circle of care right in their neighborhood.

Next, they organize local drives to collect supplies—like detergent, hygiene kits, and funds to cover laundry costs. Based on their community’s cultural input, they also gather games and books to build kid-friendly corners inside laundromats. These efforts help turn a chore into a moment of connection and comfort.

Once supplies are gathered, volunteers host monthly Laundry Love Days, welcoming families, distributing care packages, and helping cover laundry expenses. They set up play areas and engage directly with the families, creating meaningful moments of encouragement, support, and inclusion.

Every event is documented through photos and stories that are shared to celebrate the impact and inspire others to get involved. Volunteers also check in regularly with their laundromats to ensure the support continues and evolves with the needs of their community.

At #StrongLove, it’s more than clean clothes—it’s dignity, belonging, and human connection. One laundromat at a time.

One of the most powerful and often overlooked aspects of the #StrongLove initiative is its ability to bridge cultural and language gaps—especially for Spanish-speaking and multilingual families. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 42 million people in the U.S. speak Spanish at home. Globally, more than 485 million people are native Spanish speakers, making it the second most spoken language in the world. Yet many children in these communities face loneliness and isolation, unable to connect with peers because of language differences.

That’s why we focus on creating language-free zones of inclusion—offering bilingual books, culturally relevant coloring pages, and universal games like puzzles, Uno, and Connect 4. These simple tools help children feel welcomed, seen, and safe—without needing to say a single word.

These quiet moments of connection make a lasting impact. A child coloring next to another child doesn’t need to speak the same language to feel accepted. A volunteer sitting beside that child, offering a smile or a game, can become their first real friend. That kind of unspoken kindness is at the core of what #StrongLove stands for: belonging, empathy, and connection.

But the impact doesn’t stop there. When one laundromat becomes a space of dignity and play, it supports dozens of families. One bilingual book can make a child feel represented. One campaign can inspire others to start something similar in their own town. That’s how small actions become a global movement.

Locally, this project raises awareness, builds partnerships with small businesses, and reminds vulnerable families that they are not forgotten. Globally, it invites people from all backgrounds to share their customs, games, and languages—fostering deeper cultural understanding and mutual respect.

At its heart, #StrongLove empowers everyday people to become leaders of kindness. Whether organizing donations, volunteering at events, or simply playing with a child, each action delivers the same message: You are not alone. You are loved. You belong.