Our History
Loads of Blessings - Caring for Our Community
Haya (Jacqui) Howells (pictured second from right) has served as a registered nurse in the community for several decades. Through her various roles in nursing, she provided wholistic care (body, mind, and spirit) to the often marginalized within the community, mainly the homeless, those affected by mental illness, and those with substance use disorders. While discussing some of the needs of the homeless with a member of the community, the necessity for having clean clothes was mentioned. Soon after, Jacqui and her spouse Richard Howells, a US Veteran, (pictured first from right) founded the laundry ministry in January 2017 under the name Laundry on Linden Ministry. In 2024, the ministry name changed to Loads of Blessings, and received 501(c)(3) designation. Since its founding, the ministry has grown to serve an average of 70 families weekly and that number continues to grow.
Our Volunteers
We are staffed by St. Luke's-Temple medical students, health professionals, local nursing and pre-med students, and other volunteers from our local community.