School attendance and grades were dropping. Kids were missing school, but it wasn’t due to illness or even truancy. They weren’t coming to school because of the shame of not having clean clothes to wear.

Servana connected Hydro Quebec to fund and a local Community Based Organization (CBO) called Zone126 to implement and manage a laundry program with neighborhood laundromat. Twice a month, designated students and their families are able to drop off their laundry for cleaning.

Within one school quarter, there was a 15 percent increase in school attendance and student’s grades showed significant improvement. One year later, the program has grown and has successfully served the students and their families. Hydro Quebec plans to offer this program in other neighborhoods across Queens and New York State.