PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
OPERATION CLEAN DUDS … Founder Jasmine Conley and a volunteer hold a raffle to raise funds for their non-profit organization, Operation Clean Duds.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
When a simple household chore becomes an unaffordable luxury, a grassroots nonprofit is born. Operation Clean Duds, a (501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Northwest, Ohio, is quietly transforming lives — one free wash at a time.
Founded in 2021 by disabled U.S. Army veteran Jasmine Conley, the nonprofit emerged from a vivid, recurring dream: buying a house with a rundown laundromat.
Occurring seven nights in a row, the dreams prompted her to ask why. Conley felt a “heavy impartation to help those underprivileged with their laundry.”
That inspiration became Operation Clean Duds — “operation” as a nod to her military roots, “clean” for obvious reasons, and “duds” as an old-school term for clothes.
What began with a gut instinct soon gained momentum. In response to an online appeal, Conley raised $150 within her first few hours and then started exploring options to take her goals even farther.
Adopted as a school passion project from the Toledo College of Law, they assisted with the paperwork to officially establish the nonprofit. In about six months, the initiative was hitting the ground running.
Operation Clean Duds, or OCD for short, hosts six monthly events across area laundromats in Northwest Ohio, offering entirely free laundry services.
This includes detergent, dryer sheets, and even quarters to run the machine! In 2021 and 2022 alone, the group helped clean over 10,000 loads of laundry.
The impact extends beyond soap and cycles. Conley emphasized that clean clothing supports health, self-esteem, and employment opportunities; a basic need often sacrificed during financial hardship.
She stated, “You never know who a disaster is just or two from having their whole lives changed. It’s important to remember that this can happen to anyone.”
At these events, volunteers distribute laundry supplies in reusable bags, allowing participants to handle their own clothes, to foster trust and respect among communities.
Conley recounted how clients in shelters or experiencing homelessness benefit from this autonomy. “With us, they can wash, dry, and leave with their clothes, so they can start to feel better.”
She records demographic forms, so she can monitor which local areas are in need the most. With four loads per family member, a family of five can receive 20 free laundry loads.
This gives them the opportunity to not only clean their clothes but bedding and towels as well. “We have slowly increased our load capacity,” Conley explained, “we want to provide something that is actually beneficial for our families in need.”
Beyond laundry, sometimes gentle gestures — like donuts from a local bakery or coloring books for children — help nurture comfort. Stories of attendees facing illness, job loss, or domestic violence often emerge at these events.
“Some of my clients become like my extended family… they come in, get help, and we’ll listen to any story they got,” Conley shared.
The nonprofit also collaborates with other local charities to provide job interview tips, money-saving advice, and even grocery gift cards. “I believe in collaboration, not competition with other organizations,” she says. “Alone, we can only do so much. But together, we can do a lot.”
As a former medic in the American Army, Conley understands how cleanliness impacts both physical and mental health. “If you’re wearing dirty clothes, you feel bad… Some people may not have other options,” she said — and with Operation Clean Duds, she tries to fill that gap.
The organization welcomes support in many forms, including volunteers, financial contributions, donations of allergy-friendly detergent, sponsorships, and even just social media shares.
With OCD covering the entire costs for their laundry events, they are currently trying to combat and maintain the finances needed to keep serving the better portion of Northwest Ohio.
Conley noted that she makes no profit whatsoever, nor do her volunteers, and her organization is entirely dependent on United Way funding and other gifted community donations.
She recounts that an annual donation sign-up is offered on her website. “Just donating your $10 McDonald’s meal every month impacts and helps so many lives.”
Though still relatively new, the initiative’s reach is substantial. Operation Clean Duds exists to provide 100% free laundry events in the area, covering counties like Lucas, Defiance, Henry, Paulding, Fulton, and Williams.
For many, clean laundry is a luxury. Operation Clean Duds helps make it a right. Their tagline, “Clean Laundry, Bright Future: Uniting Communities, One Load at a Time,” captures the heart of what they do — not just washing clothes. Instead, restoring dignity, nurturing health, and building community bonds.
With a recent purse raffle underway to help raise funds, Conley asks anyone interested in raising money for the nonprofit to attend their October 1, 2025, raffle at the Honey Blossom Farm in Napoleon.
As Jasmine Conley puts it, “No one should be made to feel less than. People don’t realize they’re one or two tragedies away from a very different life.”