Social Spin: a purpose-driven laundromat

Social Spin is more than a laundromat. It is a place where I see community, purpose and dignity being lived out. It is described as a “purpose driven laundromat” and designed to serve as much more than a place to wash laundry. Social Spin is partnering with local businesses, nonprofits and local government agencies to ensure that the 

 basic elements of human dignity are provided to everyone.  Being clean allows people to be among other people. The stigma of body odors, being unsheltered, and people with disabilities seen or unseen are often shunned when they are at their most vulnerable. 

Social Spin’s mission is to build dignity and respect in underserved neighborhoods. 

Christy Moore, Social Spins Founder and Owner has a background in Social Work and as a community oriented leader sees laundromats as an inherent social hub. True to their motto, Connecting Communities, Providing Fresh Starts, Social Spin has successfully implemented its community-based business plan at its first location in Phoenix and a second location in Mesa. 

Over the next few weeks I would like to take you on a journey of what Social Spin has been up to and the dynamic people behind its growing success, the projects that have brought them to where they are now and what is coming up. Let me tell you, you don’t want to miss it! 

From Loss to Laughter: Resilience in the Face of Homelessness 

By Jenny Carrillo Photos

Mary’s infectious smile and warm greetings draw me to the table she and another person are sitting at while eating Menudo. “Is it okay to join your table?” I ask. “Yes.” please she says and gestures for me to sit. I asked her how she heard about Social Spin. She gestures to Martin next to her and says “he introduced me.” 

Martin, a kind-hearted native of Phoenix, is from the neighborhood and he has been coming for about a year. Social Spin has become more than just a laundry drop; it's a a moment of sanctuary, especially during the relentless heat that characterizes much of Phoenix’s climate. 

Martin tells me he was born in Samaritan Hospital and raised his children here. As we chat about Phoenix's unforgiving heat I say, you have lived here your entire life what do you like about Phoenix? Martin playfully jests, "Nothing, before adding, "You get used to the heat. It’s the people. But you find bad people everywhere. You find good people everywhere." “What brings you here today I ask. “I usually come for laundry services on Wednesdays. That has helped a lot.” ‘yes”, Mary says in agreement. But if I need help with food I come here too. Only if I need it though.” 

Martin shares his current experiences of homelessness and loss. “I’ve lived in this particular neighborhood for over 30 years. That house I lost, I raised my kids in it. Then circumstances lead to an eviction notice. “I have been on the streets now for 15 months. My daughters have an apartment. They offered to let me stay but there wasn’t room and I couldn’t be a burden to them.” 

“I was complacent. I had so many things. A backyard with a lifetime of memories. I lost everything. Clothing, books. Everything. We had to walk away from so much. Friends that become strangers because you don’t have a home. The church that was next to my old house kicked me off the property for sleeping next to the building. I just needed shade. I think this experience has taught me to be a lot more gentle. 

I used to work for a drilling company. I use to walk around like I was the sh*t. I didn’t give a sh*t about what that guy was doing, what you were doing or I didn’t care about anything.” Martin takes in a deep breath. 

“But it changes when the places you used to buy stuff from are chasing you away now. But from my view, I don’t have a place to sit.”

I was like, I am crazy. I think I have gone crazy. 

It’s wild that people would be that fickle. 

It makes you tough as nails though.” 

In a city where we are facing a homelessness crisis, Martin's words resonate deeply. 

“For a while, I would push two carts full of my things. But you can only do that for so long.” As he reflects on how this period of adversity has changed him, making him more compassionate and understanding. 

He proposes a radical idea - a mandatory experience of homelessness for a short period, akin to a military draft. His thought is that it could foster a deeper understanding and compassion among individuals who may otherwise remain disconnected from the harsh realities some face daily. “For 30 days see how you survive with nothing but the streets and strangers.” 

“We are staying in an acquaintance’s backyard. I used to date her niece and she said she remembered me being awesome so she is letting us stay there and use her car. I help her repair stuff around her house. Fixed her pipes and that took her water bill from over $300 to around $50. You know stuff like fixing gates, canopies, and such. Mary helps her around the house.” 

Their conversation is peppered with laughter, a testament to the strength of their spirits and their ability to find joy amidst life's challenges. Martin's sense of humor sparks up again as he discusses astrology, contrasting his Capricorn personality with my Aries traits.

“What is the name of your sign” he asks. 

“I’m an Aries. Can you tell?” 

“No,” he says chuckling. “I am a Capricorn.” 

“Does that mean we're compatible?” I ask

“Nope, we are opposites. Aries are compatible with the devil” he smiles. ‘but that’s because they force it to be about them. But you don’t seem like that.”  

I laugh, “Not today Martin. It’s about you and Mary today.” 

We laugh. Thank you for speaking with me today. 

May I take your photo I ask Mary. “Yes”, she says. 

I show it to her. “Oh, I like it,” she says. “You have an infectious smile I say. 

Their friendship and the sense of camaraderie illustrate the transformative power of community. They've built a network of support that helps them navigate life's ups and downs. 

For ways to learn more about laundry services, volunteer opportunities,or to donate please head to:  https://www.socialspinfoundation.org/

Navigating Homelessness in Phoenix: "A Candid Conversation About Survival, Loss, and Resilience in Difficult Circumstances"

It’s a Sunny September day. I see Matt, and we smile at each other and I walk over to him. He is a familiar face at Social Spin. “remind me your name” I ask sheepishly.  Matt. Or Matthew. As the nuns would call me. But I hated it.”

 “What do you like to be called?”  I asked,  “Not late for dinner." he chuckled

 I tell him I am here to share people’s stories. “Whatever you want to tell me,” I say.

"Yeah, I was born in Phoenix at the Old St. Joseph’s Hospital before it moved to Thomas St. Back when the nuns were the nurses. 1951. I used to live off Culver and 26th. My grandfather built that house. That’s my dad's side."

We continued chatting, the conversation naturally veering towards the infamous Phoenix heat. “You survived it, which is saying something because a lot of people passed this year,” he says. 

“My best friend, he was 81, you know we camped together and watched each other back. He passed away on the last day of August.  "He was 81. He was a real healthy guy, and he just woke up one morning and couldn't get his breath."

I said, “John, you know, get to the hospital, get checked out. But he wouldn't do it. He wanted to come to here [at Social Spin] on that Wednesday before he passed. So I carried his bags for him, got him over here. He loved the camaraderie and the food, and, you know. When we were done here we walked to the library. He had a spot over there, a  desk where he liked to read and stay cool. So I carried his stuff up there, got him up there. But the next day, I wasn't with him, and he was doing his routine and, you know, they found him at the library desk, slumped over.” Matt takes a deep breath in. He pauses for a moment. We silently sit together. 

“I don't know, he passed,” Matt says solemnly looking down at the ground. He then looks up and looks at me and says, “But that's my hot weather story for the summer.”

“I'm sorry that happened,” I say “Yeah, me too,” Matt says “How are you doing?” I ask. 

“I'm still in shock,” he says softly. He tears up. 

“Yeah, you know, I mean, I am at a spot in life where I'm the only one left in the family. Everybody else has passed. So you get used to, you know, things going away, you know. But I'm lucky to be here.”  As the conversation unfolded Matt talked about his family's deep roots in Phoenix, spanning generations. My grandmother, my mom's mom, she graduated with Carl Hayden.  So, you know, my history goes way back, my grandfather was one of the first bus drivers for Phoenix.

He speaks about his family’s history with Phoenix and this neighborhood. He’s never really been out of Arizona. 

“I lived with mom and dad for their last 30 years. When Dad passed Mom passed not long after. At home was my younger brother, 20 years younger than me. He was in and out of prison, alcohol and meth. A 350-pound mean gorilla, you know, when he's high.

He won't remember, you know, trying to kill you.”  He shares, “So my mom before her death says to me, you get your Social Security check,  and your brother will never amount to anything so I am going to leave him the house. I told her she could do what she wanted it was her stuff.

So she passed. He got everything. I think it was the night she passed or the next night.

He came into my room in the middle of the night and turned my light on. And he goes, “you know, I could kill you and bury you in the backyard and nobody would know about it.” And then he flipped the light off and left. So I'm laying there going, well, it's time to pack my bag and leave. The next day I left.” 

I slept in my car until somebody stole the catalytic converter and it’s $600 to replace it. And then my registration lapsed. I didn’t realize it. I got a ticket. Then a week later it got towed. But between all the tickets, getting it fixed getting all the registration and insurance together It just wasn’t affordable to try and get it back. So I paid my tickets and yeah, but anyway, everything I owned was in the car.” 

He softly gives a chuckle shaking his head, “so I just crashed out on the ground. Yeah, the spot right where the car was parked. I just slept there.” 

“I've been on the street like a little over five years. I did my first year up in Sunnyslope and I learned that was a big mistake. Sunnyslope is run by gangs and the cops are just as mean. I went up to Tempe.  

“Do you have a tent or something?” I ask “Oh, no, that's the last thing you want is a tent. It draws too much attention. So that's where I'm at. You know, I'll be guided to the next place. I'm not worried about it.

“Sorry,” I say.

“No, no, I love it. I love it. You know, I got what I need right here.” He pats his rolling suitcase. “Yeah, it works for me. Works for me. I feel real blessed.”

We sit together without speaking for a moment. He then shares,  “I was scared shitless when I first started. It's like you got people threatening to shoot you, knife you, burn you up, cut you up. You know, just drugs are rampant up there in Sunnlyslope. You got people here too but not as bad as it is up there.” 

“How do you survive those moments” I ask. 

“Pray,” he says matter of fact. “I pray. I have walked away from situations where I can only think there must be an angel watching over me right now. And I think when you start to learn how to let go of how you think it should be and just like, here's what that hand that is dealt and now….. He pauses, “and it's a good education. So just look at it that way. Because anything that comes easy to you, that's great. I hope it keeps coming that way, but it's not going to be that way. You know, you're going to have your moments. So, yeah, you know, I always thought, or everybody says, oh, you get older and it's going to be a piece of cake. These are supposed to be my golden years but yeah right, it’s not golden at all” 

He continues, “You know, but the way the economy is and everything is set up, everybody's in a tough space. Most of the public, they're going to check away from being homeless themselves.” He is tearing up. He begins to apologize for crying. 

“Don't worry about tearing up,” I say

“Well, you know, I am a man I am not supposed to.”

“Yes,  you are a man, and you are a human. Those tears just mean you are human” 

Thank you he says, I appreciate every breath I take. 

“Here I thought, I don't have anything to tell her or anything, but, you know, life's a blessing, you know. So, yeah, just run with it.” He says looking at me.

• Laundry with Love: Social Spin's Compassionate Neighborhood Initiatives by Jenny Carrillo

Social Spin is dedicating themselves to creating human-centered spaces that uplift neighborhoods and revolutionize the laundromat experience!

Christy has made job creation and skill development a fundamental principle at Social Spin.  Christy is ensuring they are not only washing clothes but washing away barriers, forging a path toward empowerment and inclusivity. 

Social Spin partners with Beacon Group, an Arizona-based nonprofit. Beacon Group is committed to nurturing sustainable employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, providing them with vocational training, job coaching, placement assistance, and more. From Monday to Friday, a dedicated crew from Beacon Group, led by a job coach processes laundry at Social Spin. The Beacon Group crew works to process free laundry for homebound neighbors. Both of these programs are funded by the Maricopa County Health Department.

As I step into the bustling laundromat, a sense of ease fills the air. Amidst the soft chatter, the buzz of hair clippers, and the gentle hum of washing machines, I meet Naomi. A member of the Beacon Group, Naomi has been working at Social Spin for over a year. She aspires to be a job coach and sees in Social Spin a reflection of her grandmother's tight-knit community in Tucson, “Social Spin has been a good job. I like how it is community-based. My grandma has her own community in Tucson and this reminds me of home and how they help people in need. I think it’s really awesome.”

“What stands out to you working here” I ask.

 “Working with customers is nice. People here are really nice and everyone treats everyone the same here [at Social Spin] and it feels good.  I work hard and I am learning the skills. Diamond is a good job coach and is going to help me get where I need to go.”

 “Where are you trying to go?” I ask. 

“My dream is to someday work in a clothing store because I like fashion. I like makeup.” 

As we chat, Christy walks by with Cibo, an adorable foster dog. Naomi's face lights up at the sight of the furry friend, and she gushes about her love for dogs, relishing in the opportunity to spend time with them after her shift.

I ask if there is anything else she would like to share. “I like working here, Christy is doing a good job and I appreciate her for letting us come and learn the skills. I want to thank her for allowing us to work. I appreciate her and her kindness.” 

With the support of the Maricopa County Health Department, both Social Spin and Beacon Group carry out their impactful programs. These services not only provide free laundry but extend a helping hand to vulnerable populations, offering hot meals and connections to vital community resources.

Social Spin and Beacon Group stand as lighthouses of hope, providing space for transformation that is driven by kindness and a genuine desire to uplift lives.

Social Spin: “We create human-centered spaces that transform neighborhoods and the laundromat industry.” 

 “Every week, the Social Spin Foundation hosts Wash with Care Wednesday events at our purpose-driven laundromat in Mesa, AZ & mutual aid hub in Phoenix, AZ. These events are attended by our community’s most vulnerable populations, including our unsheltered neighbors. They provide dignity through simple acts of kindness, like gifting free laundry, hot meals, and connections to community resources.”

https://www.socialspinfoundation.org/