© Wade Milyard
GOOD PEOPLE
Retired Cop Transforms Bus into Rolling Laundry, Bringing Clean Clothes to the Homeless
After retiring from the Frederick Police Department, Wade Milyard felt called to serve his community in a new way. Inspired by a conversation with a homeless couple who washed their clothes in a creek, he launched Fresh Step Laundry, a mobile laundromat offering free laundry services to the unhoused.
Milyard drives his converted van around Maryland, providing clean clothes and a boost of dignity to those in need. He never charges for his service, relying on donations and his own funds to keep the project running.
Clients say having clean clothes helps them feel better and more confident. In just a few weeks, Fresh Step has washed over 2,000 pounds of laundry.
Milyard hopes to expand with a second vehicle, reaching even more people and continuing his mission of compassion and dignity for all.