Roanoke City Schools – Keeping It Clean

Sponsored by the RBA and the Roanoke Law Foundation

The Covid-19 pandemic has limited the RBA and the RLF from continuing our traditional volunteer projects; Barrister Book Buddies, Rule of Law, Santa at the Station, You and the Law, etc. We have reached out to the Roanoke City Schools for suggestions on how best to assist them and the students during these difficult times. Their response was laundry. Clean laundry, something most of us take for granted every day.

Almost 60% of the students that attend Roanoke City Public Schools (RCPS) live in households with incomes below the poverty level.  In addition, there are hundreds of homeless students at any given time. Students at the high school level are often both homeless and struggling on their own.  Access to laundry services is simply not available to these students.  Wearing dirty clothes is not only uncomfortable it is embarrassing for these students. Studies show without clean clothing, students miss school and may fall behind academically. Wearing clean clothes not only improves a student’s self-esteem it also leads to higher attendance rates. Principals at 21 schools within Roanoke City have indicated a washer and dryer installed in their facilities would have a positive impact on those students in need.  Let’s make it happen.

The RLF & RBA’s Keeping it Clean Project is collecting donations toward the purchase of the washers and dryers.  The Project’s goal is to increase the morale and the dignity of RCPS students so they will stay in school and, ultimately, graduate.  The Project will purchase the machines, and the RCPS will install and maintain them. Please give generously!

Sponsorships and donations are welcome by individuals and firms.  The Roanoke Law Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, and all donations are tax deductible.  Thank you for your support!

Donation Forms may be found and printed here.