Laundry Love kicks off on Monday

A popular service will begin for the 2026-2027 season next week. Laundry Love provides the means for families to have clean clothing for their children to wear to school and for the adults to wear to work, courtesy of The Grove Christian Church.

"Laundry Love was actually launched by a nonprofit organization in Ventura, California," explained David Patrick, lead pastor of The Grove. "I found it through social media and one of our life groups took on the cost of getting it started. We launched our first Laundry Love night in Branson, I believe in 2010-2011. The location was on the strip next to Mazio's Pizza. When the tornado ripped through Branson in 2012, we had to find another location. We moved to The Ye Old Wash House in Hollister that year after the tornado in 2012."

Laundry Love was designed to provide clean clothing and bedding for low-income or no-income families or individuals. Each family may wash four loads of laundry (no rugs, mats or dog beds). Families or individuals are responsible for loading washers, removing items and transferring items to the dryers. The Grove provides the funds for the washing machines and laundry detergent and dryer sheets, if needed. The dryers are free to use, thanks to Kyle, owner of Ye Old Wash House.

"We offer Laundry Love on the first and third Monday of the month during the school year," Pastor Patrick noted. "We start at 4:30 p.m. and start the last load of wash by 6:30 p.m. If there is a holiday or school closing, we do not conduct Laundry Love. We go off of Branson School's calendar, to avoid confusion, since they are not on a four-day school week."

A complimentary evening meal is offered during Laundry Love. Chick-Fil-A provides chicken sandwiches, and members of The Grove bring homemade desserts. Water and soda are also given out.

The first Laundry Love for the 2026-2027 school year will be on Monday, September 21, at the Ye Old Wash House in Hollister, 1753 South Business 65.  

The Grove Christian Church is located at the 65 and Bee Creek corridor, at 116 Pathway, on the hill behind the Branson Junior High. Service time is 10:00 on Sunday mornings. 

"We have life groups, Bible studies and D-groups that meet during the week on various nights and times." said Pastor Patrick.  "Our Student Ministry (Jr. and Sr. High) meet from 6 - 8 p.m. in the main building. Canopy (Young Adult Ministry) meets on Sunday night at 5:30 p.m. in the main building."

Everyone is invited to attend and connect with The Grove. Services are also streamed online.