Tameka Thornton’s family taught her the value of giving back. Her parents and grandparents. Her brothers and sisters.
Her uncles, Robert and Micheal Dowdell, returned to Akron after college to run recreational sports leagues at Ed Davis Community Center. After graduating from high school in the Atlanta area, she also returned to Akron.
Her path? Coaching girls cheerleading and helping Black residents overcome historic barriers to home ownership. She currently works for United Purpose Mortgage.
She also volunteers in her community — at events such as a free laundry service hosted by the City of Akron on a recent summer afternoon at West Side Laundromat.
“We have to take care of each other, take care of our community,” Thornton said.
At the event, the city provided free washing and drying for up to three loads of laundry per Akron household, its way of taking the load off — pun intended.
Nearly every washer and dryer spun. Akron firefighters cooked hotdogs and hamburgers. And residents showed up with bags and baskets of laundry. Detergent was donated by D-A Speciality Co.
By the end of the free event, more than five tons of laundry had been washed.
Summer Hall, an Akron Board of Education member and the cultural engagement coordinator with the City of Akron, organized the series of laundry events.
The jewel of Akron is its people. They’re vibrant and resilient. Flawed, yet thoughtful and nurturing. And all of them come with compelling stories. That’s why we launched “Akron in 330.” This series offers a glimpse into everyday folks’ journeys across our many neighborhoods — 330 words at a time. Know someone we should consider? Tell us here.
“If I could take the stress off of one person,” Hall said, “or even off of people for one day, to wash their clothes, to give kids a better feeling as they’re going to school, that’s what I want to do.”
Such a simple need. But an essential one.
“If anybody knows, dirty laundry hanging around and trying to get it done one at a time, that’s overwhelming, and it can create anxiety,” Thornton said.
Last year, city officials hosted three Tumble Together events, helping 97 families complete more than 300 loads of laundry. Earlier this year, at the city’s first wash day of the year (in March), more than 60 families participated.
