Project Refresh Brings Mobile Showers to Augusta, Georgia
February 12, 2022
Project Refresh brings essential hygiene and care services to Augusta, Georgia
Backstory
Jill Kozlowski founded Project Refresh in July 2020 along with other healthcare workers who have seen first-hand the impact a shower can have on patients’ well-being and health. Because Augusta has limited hygiene resources, Jill and her team had a new calling to take action and start their own mobile shower program.
Jill was first introduced to LavaMaeX from our other affiliate at Project Outpour, whose founder used to work with Jill at a previous job. Jill then joined our 1:1 Mentorship program in February 2021, and spent the next year making her dream a reality.
How LavaMaeˣ Helped
Jill and the Project Refresh team worked with LavaMaex Consultant Sam Reardon on getting their project off the ground. Sam helped Project Refresh with various liability procedures, impact collection and reporting, staffing, trailer design and purchasing, service operations and guest management practices, and much more.
After reaching many milestones, Sam recommended that Project Refresh receive funding from our next grant cycle and awarded $10,000 to get the project off the ground. Thanks to the hard work of Sam and the Project Refresh team, they launched their mobile shower trailer in February 2022!
Service Model
Project Refresh brings their two-stall trailer (one ADA) to Downtown August once a week at the Salvation Army alongside five volunteers.
Their partnership with the Salvation Army allows them to provide fresh clothes to shower guests.
Thanks to KAMO, they are able to transport the trailer to and from the Salvation Army free of charge.
In the future, Project Refresh aims to add one to two new shower locations to their weekly schedule once they recruit more volunteers, and secure a second trailer to reach the broader Agusta community. Sam continues to meet with the team monthly to ensure the sustainability of the program.
Signature Story
“Mr. Willie Dean was our very first shower guest. It was truly a blessing to be able to serve this man and in turn to be blessed by getting to know a little bit about Mr. Willie and how he brings joy and laughter to those in similar circumstances to himself. The smile on his face was enough to make our entire day of hard work worth it! Mr. Willie hates the cold, but he ended up braving it on Saturday to get a hot shower.”
~ Jill Kozlowski, Project Refresh Founder
