SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Nov. 2, 2017 – In a tumultuous environment it is easy to forget the small things, and it is the small things that come together to improve everyday life.
“The people who are supporting Puerto Rico right now are making a difference and helping the people who really need help, and we’re supporting them so they can have clean clothes and be more comfortable,” said Sgt. Deborah Vega, 597th Quartermaster Company, 346th Transportation Battalion, 166th Regional Support Group, 1st Mission Support Command, from Puerto Rico.
Without laundry services in a tough environment, service members and other relief staff would have to wash their clothes as best they could by hand, requiring significant time and effort. Not only do the laundry services improve morale by providing clean clothing, they allow relief personnel to focus on the mission at hand.
“This is our home right now, so laundry is helping us to keep on going with the missions,” said Spc. Daniel Vasquez, 480th Military Police Company, 124th Military Police Battalion, 92nd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Puerto Rico National Guard.
Throughout the response and recovery process relief effort teams have to be self-proficient to meet some of their needs. The 597th QMC provides laundry service for as many as 300-500 people a day. They have operated at the convention center since September 23 after Hurricane Maria.
“We receive all the laundry from the people who are supporting the emergency staffs here in Puerto Rico," described Vega. "They drop off their laundry, then we process the laundry and divide the clothes into the mesh bag by person and by load."
"Once we got the loads we send it to the LADS, the laundry advance system we have. We wash it and when the laundry is ready it goes to the shipping area," said Vega. "The Soldiers process all the clean clothes and use the laundry slip to identify the person and the mesh bags and then put it inside their laundry bag. Then we start sending messages to the person so they can pick it up"
Service members and emergency relief workers who come out of the field covered in sweat, dirt, and grime depend on that service to maintain their personal hygiene. It improves their health and their morale.