Blue Lavandarias – Projeto Roupa Amiga

Blue Lavandarias, a traditional and self-service laundry business operating in Faro and Olhão, runs the 'Projeto Roupa Amiga' (Friendly Clothing Project), a solidarity initiative that goes beyond its core laundry services. The project accepts donations of adult, child and baby clothing in good condition at its traditional launderette on Rua Teresa Ramalho Ortigão in Faro, with no appointment necessary during opening hours. Once collected, the donated clothes are washed and dried free of charge, then sorted, separated by type and condition, and packaged for distribution. The finished parcels are delivered to charities, shelters and families in need across the Algarve, typically signposted by non-profit organisations and Private Institutions of Social Solidarity (IPSS). Since the project began in 2018, Blue Lavandarias has delivered several thousand kilograms of clothing, with recent reports citing over 7,000 pieces and more than 2,000 kg donated in a single year alone, supported by the collaboration of employees from Grupo Timing, the company behind Blue Lavandarias. Deliveries have gone to associations such as O G.A.TO. in Faro. The company also partners with APATRIS 21, welcoming young people for weekly work-inclusion sessions at its laundry, reflecting a broader commitment to community and social inclusion alongside the clothing donation programme. The initiative demonstrates how a commercial laundry service can embed social responsibility into its everyday operations, combining sustainability (reuse of clothing, reducing textile waste) with direct support for vulnerable communities in the Algarve region.