By Lindsey Powell, for the SNAP

Hudson Property Services will celebrate the grand opening of its new location in Oakboro and launch its new nonprofit Start Fresh Laundry at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Start Fresh Laundry aims to provide children in Stanly County Schools and daycares with fresh, clean clothes each week without charge.

Jennifer Hudson, owner of Hudson Property Services, got the idea for this nonprofit because of her work as a medic.

“In EMS, I go into homes, I see the children. I do the same homes all the time, I see these children, and I see how dirty their clothes are,” said Hudson. “There’s a lot of disadvantaged children in Stanly County and families that don’t have access to washers and dryers.”

Hudson wants to relieve families of this burden through Start Fresh Laundry. Eventually, she hopes to extend this nonprofit to other people in the community and provide washers and dryers to families that don’t have access to them.

“We want to be sure these kids are well taken care of,” Hudson said. “The children are the main concern because, I know we hear it often, but they are our future. I want them to know that they’re loved and know that there’s people out there that care about them.”

Start Fresh Laundry is accepting sponsors and donations. Hudson hopes the ribbon-cutting ceremony will introduce her business and nonprofit to the Oakboro community and reach those in need.

“We want to make sure that we offer services that will help our community and help the people in it,” Hudson said. “I know I can’t help everybody out there, but I can do my best to help those that are in my community because our community is what supports us and what backs us.”

Lindsey Powell is a freelance writer for The Stanly News & Press.