Loads of Hope services twister victims

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WALA) - After Hurricane Katrina left much of the Gulf Coast unrecognizable, Tide launched the initiative “Loads of Hope” as a clothing cleaning service to victims of the disaster. And Tuscaloosa is no different, as tornado victims are lining up at the new branch open near McFarland Boulevard.

As Alberta resident Latia Cobbs’ clothes are packaged for pick up, she’s reminded of the EF-4 tornado which tore through her home, destroying it. The twister thankfully left her and her four children unharmed.

“I just believe it was God who kept us alive, because if you saw my house, or where my house was, we shouldn’t be here,” Cobbs said.

Tide Field Manager Ryan Laster told FOX10 News the importance of his program.

“Going through a disaster like this, it’s really not a whole lot you can do, but the small thing, that’s most important to people is just having something as simple as clean clothes to put on,” Laster said.

So that’s exactly what Tide has done, with it's "Loads of Hope" initiative, which cleans two loads of laundry per family daily. They’ll wash it, dry it, fold it, even walk it to your car.

“We’ve probably washed over 600-700 loads so far and we got plenty more to go,” Laster said.

And they’re not just helping victims of the twisters, as Cheryl Fuller of Mississsippi found out. Fuller was in town celebrating Mother’s day with her daughter, when she caught wind of a death in her family. She left in a rush, with a load of damp laundry. And Loads of Hope serviced them.

“I just think it’s awesome, this is something like, that happens in the movies. It’s amazing how people have come together and stuck together, helping these people that really need the help,” Fuller said.

The group will be taking loads until at least Wednesday and probably packing up the next day.

Loads of hope, exactly what they’re giving victims in Tuscaloosa, where life is slowly getting back to normal.

Laster says another branch is opening in Cullman at a laundromat. If you want to help Loads of Hope, buy a Tide T-shirt, available online. All proceeds will benefit the program.