You could make all the difference to someone in your own community.
Right now, our services are needed more than ever. The rising cost of living means homelessness and hardship are on the rise. As the need for our service grows, so do we. A donation from you helps us meet the increasing demand for support.
You could make all the difference to someone in your own community.
Since 2018, we have been offering a simple, yet powerful service – laundry, hot showers, and non-judgmental kōrero – to those doing it tough in our communities. We create a safe, judgment-free zone to ease the social isolation often faced by those doing it tough. Thanks to our 300+ committed volunteers and supporters, we operate five services in four different locations across Aotearoa, which is on average 97 shifts a month!. But it’s not just about providing clean laundry and warm showers; it’s about treating people with respect, understanding and kindness.
Meet Ryan.
Ryan is one friend who visits our shifts in Tamaki Makaura. He first came to shift a few years ago and knows the judgment people in his situation often experience for sleeping rough. But when he found Orange Sky, Ryan shared
“You just feel welcome and it’s a great environment to be in… I always want to help them, […], they deserve it, so they deserve more.”
“I use Orange Sky to get my washing done. It’s very expensive now to get your washing done, so the service is great, helpful. It gives me confidence and helps me to be a better me.”
As Ryan explained, feeling welcome makes a huge difference to those experiencing homelessness and hardship. From korero with friends, we know that while access to clean laundry and hot showers might bring someone to Orange Sky – it’s the connection through non-judgmental conversation that has a greater impact.
But times are tough right now, and it’s getting tougher. The 2018 census found that 41,600 New Zealanders were experiencing some form of homelessness. We think the results of the latest census will confirm what we already see firsthand: more and more families and everyday Kiwis needing support.
One of our Auckland volunteers, Elsie, reflected on what she sees out on shift.
“Coming out on shift, one of the main things that shocked me… was how similar our life stories are … We can all be just one step away from a different circumstance tomorrow. For a lot of them, I think it’s just that they were down on their luck a little bit, but they didn’t have the community around them… For a lot of us, it’s something we could easily face tomorrow.”
We have been working extra hard to grow our services across Aotearoa so that we can be there when the community needs us. Thanks to the continued generosity of our supporters and partners, our services will expand this year to meet the increasing demand.
This year, four new services will be welcomed as a response. Here’s what we’re doing;
• Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington: On Monday 12th of February we expanded our Wellington service into Porirua , operating additional shifts every Monday in partnership with Porirua City Council and Te Rūnanga O Toa Rangatira.
• Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland: we’re launching a new Laundromat Service at Auckland City Mission in late February, bringing convenient laundry services to the heart of the city.
• Te Tonga o Tāmaki Makaurau | South Auckland: in March, we’re launching a new laundry pod to support the community.
• Te Matau-a-Māui | Hawkes Bay: Come July, we’re introducing our sixth. The newest member of the Orange Sky fleet will call Hawkes Bay home. This will be the first service on the East Coast and will meet the essential and growing needs of the Hawkes Bay community.
Help Orange Sky reach more Kiwis in need.
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Give someone a fresh start this holiday season
There is no good time of the year to be experiencing homelessness. But for those doing it tough, the holiday season can serve as a difficult reminder of social disconnection and isolation. It’s hard seeing other people celebrating and having family holidays – especially when you’re not even safe or comfortable.
The 2018 census showed that over 41,600 people across Aotearoa were experiencing homelessness. One in six New Zealanders have experienced homelessness before, with one in five saying they know someone who has. For Kiwis across the country, the increasing cost of living can be the difference between putting food on the table or taking clothes to the laundromat. There’s no denying that times are tough, and getting tougher.
Orange Sky’s mahi is simple, yet it makes a huge difference for those doing it tough. We can’t fix homelessness alone. But we can help ease the load through providing free laundry, warm showers and genuine, non-judgmental kōrero in a safe space. Every year, we operate more than 350 shifts across the motu, with a passionate team of over 300 volunteers committed to making a difference in our communities.
Whilst access to laundry and shower services is essential, it’s the conversations we share on our six orange chairs that have the greatest impact for those who use our services (who we call ‘friends’). With the support of your donation, our volunteers can continue to be there for our friends, like John, throughout this holiday season.
John is a former military man, Te Whanganui-a-Tara local and friend of Orange Sky. John currently lives in his car, and has been – on and off – for the past decade. He has been on the waiting list for six years to find a place to call home, something that is only becoming more difficult with the increased cost of living. Like a lot of Kiwis, he’s the resilient sort. As he puts it, “I can survive. I can survive anywhere.”
John first heard about Orange Sky in 2019 from the news. As is often the case, it was the laundry services that brought him to his first shift. Very quickly, John’s visits became more than just doing his washing – the weekly kōrero with the volunteers, like Adam, is what he most looks forward to.
Adam first met John over four years ago when he began volunteering with Orange Sky in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
”John’s been so open and warm with us, but also is an incredibly respectful person. That makes it a lovely relationship. It’s always a pleasure to see him,” said Adam.
“I think some of the misconceptions in the community about people experiencing homelessness is that they are somehow different, but they’re not. They’re going through a tough time, but they’re no different from people who aren’t, and other people who are perhaps experiencing more fortunate circumstances.”
But John doesn’t let these tough times take his dignity or compassion for others away. He is an active member of his community and church, always pitching in to help others through volunteering and simple acts of kindness. Despite having so little for himself, he still gives so much.
John is 1 in 41,600. That’s the number of Kiwis experiencing homelessness according to the 2018 Census – it’s likely even higher now. By giving to Orange Sky this holiday season, you’ll be making a huge difference for people who are doing it tough, just like John.
Help provide connection these holidays for people like John.
Make a donation today.
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Adam reflects on his volunteer journey with Orange Sky
Here at Orange Sky we have a simple formula; to provide a place for all Kiwis doing it tough to connect through a regular laundry and shower service. The people who bring this service to life are our volunteers; they are empathetic listeners and great conversationalists, ready to lend a helping hand. We sat down with volunteer team member Adam, to hear about his journey with Orange Sky.
“Hi my name is Adam and I am a general volunteer on the Wednesday afternoon shift in Christchurch. I help support the volunteer team, give our friends clean clothes, warm showers and help ease the load for them.
It was such an easy process to apply to volunteer, and is perfectly in line with my values, my lifestyle and what I believe in. The time that I can volunteer is convenient and it is such a tangible way to help the community, you can directly see the impact immediately and it feels good to go home after you have provided support to our friends.
[Before volunteering], my perceptions of what homelessness was and the reality is very different. The diversity of our friends shows a wide variety of people who need the service; no one is too far removed from getting in line for accessing clean clothes – it is a place that is open to everyone.
I feel [Orange Sky] is important for our friends to have a place to come and chat. Human connection is so important; for some, it is possibly the only conversation they have had all week. Shift gives our friends an outlet to express their views on the world or just talk in general, it is really important.
I always believe in this saying – volunteering will set you free. Everyone has an hour to do something positive for the community, it really puts things into perspective, and provides you access to things you would not normally see.”
Adam is one of the 300+ volunteers who help to provide Kiwis doing it tough with access to free laundry services, and of course, genuine conversation.
December 5th marks a very special day in the Orange Sky calendar – International Volunteer Day. It’s an opportunity to celebrate our remarkable team of volunteers and the work they do each day to positively connect communities through washing, showers and most importantly, genuine, non-judgmental conversations.
Learn more about volunteering at Orange Sky
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Vehicle weight - volunteer
Orange Sky, along with our communities, operates in a world that continues to be impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, but what remains the same is our commitment to innovating and supporting our friends on the street.
Our mission to positively connect communities is as important as ever right now; we remain focused on ensuring we can deliver our service to friends and volunteers in safe environments.
Please review the Frequently Asked Questions, and should you require any further information, you can get in touch with our team on the details listed below.
Service Partners and Operations
For the most up-to-date information on whether shifts are operating is via the find a shift page. The ‘latest updates’ section below also provides the most recent COVID-19 information for our services across New Zealand.
Orange Sky has put in place a COVID-19 Management Plan in line with public health measures issued by the Ministry of Health to create the safest environment possible with the changing circumstances. We regularly liaise with service provider partners to ensure that the shift environment is as safe as possible.
Keeping the community safe is one of Orange Sky’s highest priorities and we take this seriously as an organisation. We have created a COVID-19 Management Plan consisting of multiple controls to support keeping the community safe. While several of these will be in place for the foreseeable future, other control measures are activated based on the current risk levels. The controls consist of the following:
- Social distancing (2m) and encouraging others to do so as well.
- Face masks are available on shifts and must be worn when mandated by the relevant authority.
- Prioritising vaccinated volunteers on shift when risk levels increase
- If volunteers are unwell and experiencing cold and/or flu-like symptoms, they must not attend shift.
- Hand hygiene is promoted throughout the shift including washing hands regularly with soap and water and/or using the hand sanitiser.
- Increased cleaning during and at the end of shift including touchpoints, orange chairs, tables, door handles, washing baskets etc.
- The use of PPE including disposable gloves, masks, and safety glasses.
We are continuously monitoring the changing COVID-19 environment, and will communicate any further changes in our operations promptly.
Yes, Orange Sky is considered an essential service as part of New Zealand’s COVID-19 response and recovery framework. Alongside other housing and social support providers, we play a critical role in supporting some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable individuals and whānau to stay connected during this difficult time. It is a priority for us to continue supporting our friends and provide our service to those who rely on us.
Using our Service and Shift Information
To keep our community safe, we would appreciate it if you don’t utilise the service whilst experiencing any cold and/or flu like symptoms. We understand this is a hard time for many. Doing what we can to minimise the spread of the virus will ensure that our orange vans can continue to show up each week to deliver free laundry, warm showers and genuine conversation.
It is currently not a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend an Orange Sky shift and access our services. However, we encourage our community to follow the government health advice. During times of increased risks from COVID-19, some services may require volunteers to be vaccinated on shift.
If you’re currently experiencing homelessness, support is available. The Ministry Of Housing and Urban Development has pulled together a list of relevant resources.
The Ministry of Health’s website is the key place to go for information about precautions to take while on shift and at home. There is also a central portal for all information on COVID-19. Healthline has a dedicated COVID-19 number for the public to access – 0800 358 5453. It’s free to call and available 24/7.
Another resource is Āwhina, which is an anonymous website that connects people in need with everything from housing, a meal, financial help, domestic violence support, counselling and more, with thousands of services around the country.
You can also visit Lifeline, who can provide information and advice about managing your mental health during the pandemic, or find a health professional for you to speak to.
Volunteers
Our team works as quickly and transparently as possible with localised teams as soon as new information around COVID-19 requirements, restrictions and lockdowns become available. Where possible, we work hard to ensure that shifts keep operating to ensure we can support our friends.
The Orange Sky operations team communicates with local leadership teams, team leaders and service providers, who will then communicate to all volunteers via your pre-determined WhatsApp group chat as soon as possible about whether a shift will be operating.
After extensive consultation with our volunteer community, we have reviewed and updated our COVID-19 Risk Management Framework to consider how and when vaccinations may be required across each of our service locations. Due to the ongoing risks COVID-19 continues to present in our communities, Orange Sky may choose to prioritise volunteers that are up to date with their vaccinations during times of heightened risk of COVID-19 or as required by government guidelines.
As part of the Orange Sky volunteer onboarding process, you will need to declare if you are up to date with your vaccinations, however, you do not need to provide evidence of vaccination. If you would prefer not to disclose if you are up to date with your vaccinations, simply select ‘no’ when signing up to be an Orange Sky volunteer. Selecting no will not affect your application process, and will not affect your ability to volunteer with Orange Sky, except during times of heightened risk of COVID-19 or as required by government guidelines, where confirmed vaccinated volunteers could be prioritised.
Orange Sky has a responsibility to provide a safe shift environment for friends, volunteers and service provider partners. By understanding the rates of vaccination within our volunteer community, we can make informed decisions when reviewing risk management policies and processes; as well as being able to easily prioritise vaccinated volunteers on shift when required. By declaring if you are up to date with your vaccinations, you will be helping to keep our vans on the road, providing meaningful connection and services to our friends.
The information can also help our team identify shifts or regions that may be at risk of being non-operational if a vaccine mandate is implemented by the government, if not enough vaccinated volunteers are rostered.
Orange Sky volunteer leaders and Orange Sky HQ will be able to see your vaccination declaration response on your profile. However, your status will not affect your ability to volunteer with Orange Sky, except during times of heightened risk of COVID-19 or as required by government guidelines, volunteers who are up to date with their vaccinations could be prioritised.
Whilst it is currently not a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend an Orange Sky shift, it is strongly recommended and vaccinated volunteers may be prioritised on shift. However, if the government mandates vaccines for a specific region, or industry, then it may be a requirement and you will not be able to attend shift.
Service Leaders and Service Coordinators will see which volunteers have completed the optional COVID-19 Vaccination Declaration. Utilising this information, they will attempt to fill each shift by rostering volunteers who have confirmed their vaccination declaration in the first instance. Prioritising vaccinated volunteers ensures that we can support teams to deliver our service to friends in the safest possible environments.
If your vaccination declaration has changed since you signed up with Orange Sky, you can email us at volunteer@orangesky.org.nz with your details and we can update your vaccination status in Volaby.
If you’re feeling unwell, please make sure you stay home and get tested. Please notify your Team Leader as soon as possible if you are unable to attend a shift.
Orange Sky offers a VESP program to all volunteers which provides a free and confidential mental health support service. The program is designed to help you overcome any issues impacting your mental wellbeing related to your time and experience volunteering with Orange Sky. The program allows volunteers to access up to three support sessions per year. You can book a free session via the Portal.
If you have any further questions, please get in touch via our contact us page or by phoning +64 9 887 0566 during business hours.
Volunteer enquiries: volunteer@orangesky.org.nz
Friends accessing our services
To find out if there is a shift near you or access the most up to date information, click the ‘find a shift’ button below or at the top of the page.
Service providers
Latest Updates
Kia Ora Whanau,
It’s been just over three weeks since we made the tough decision to pause our services during Alert Level 4 lockdown. With the entire country (except Auckland) now at Alert Level 2, it’s been great to see all of our Wellington shifts back up and running this week. For anyone looking to use our services in Wellington, please keep an eye on our schedule as some shift times may vary by an hour or so to accomodate new meal times of the service providers we’re working alongside. We hope to have the majority of our Auckland shifts online again once Alert Level 3 is announced. As soon as we know a shift is going ahead, we’ll update the schedule. If you have any further questions on this please get in touch via our contact us page here.
Take Care,
Orange Sky team.
Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak in New Zealand, Auckland and Wellington are currently under mandatory, level 4 restrictions. Although Orange Sky remains an essential service, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause all shifts across Auckland and Wellington. We will take this time to ensure that we can support shifts operating in a safe environment for our friends, volunteers and the greater community. Our thoughts go out to everyone who has been impacted by the recent COVID-19 outbreak – especially our friends doing it tough. We hope to be back out there operating again soon. If you have any further questions on this please get in touch via our contact us page here.
Socials
Ways to Support
Media Enquiries
Get in touch with our team via the link below.