Medical Students Spread the Love to Fellow Community Members

“I really believed in the mission of Laundry Love and wanted to help it continue and grow for the student body,” says fourth-year medical student Danny Wells. “So when the opportunity arose, I volunteered to be a co-chair of the project.”

The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) chapter at the University of Minnesota Medical School has participated in Laundry Love—a national, monthly service project—since 2015.

Now, on the third Tuesday of each month, medical students travel to Chicago Coin Lake Laundry in South Minneapolis to hand out quarters to those who might not otherwise be able to afford washing their clothes.

“It’s not just about handing out money,” Wells says. “It’s about engaging with the community, and helping those in need.”

Wells got involved with Laundry Love during his fourth year of medical school, when he was inducted into GHHS.

Though Wells had been interested in Laundry Love since he started medical school in 2015, he was always too busy to participate.

“I wished I would have participated earlier in my medical school journey,” he says.

Students also hand out and read books to younger children that are with their parents at the laundromat.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to interact and read with the kids that are there,” says fourth-year medical student Emily Lund. “You can tell by the looks on their faces that they really enjoy it.”

In addition to helping the community, Laundry Love gives students the opportunity to get outside of their study bubble and meet other students.

“One of the things I love about the project is the opportunity to meet other medical students–especially the first and second years. It’s great to see them, meet them and commiserate together; since we went through the same things they did,” Lund says.

Laundry Love has been very well received–not only from the community members and their families that have received support, but also the students that volunteer.

“Without the support of the community and our volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to put these events on,” Wells says. “We are so appreciative of everyone who has supported and continues to support this project.”

Thanks to the tremendous support Laundry Love has seen since its inception, it has been able to continue throughout the years.

“My hope is that we can not only continue the project for years to come, but also grow and improve it,” Lund says.

If you’re interested in supporting the Laundry Love initiative, visit this website.