Austin FC's Stuver on laundry project expansion: 'Too many people take for granted what clean clothes can do'

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Austin FC goalie Brad Stuver's Austin Laundry Project expanded to four laundromats. | Twitter/Kaitlin Mauro

Austin FC goalie Brad Stuver's Austin Laundry Project has added four more local laundromats, per a report from Austin NBC affiliate KXAN.

Launched last year, the Austin Laundry Project helps low-income families use local laundromats free of charge.

The initiative earned the 30-year-old Stuver a nomination for the MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year Award.

According to KXAN, Stuver, his wife and a group of volunteers provided financially struggling Austinites with free laundry services so they don't have to eschew putting food on the table.

“Too many people take for granted what clean clothes can do for kids going to school, parents getting to jobs, clothes gives you the confidence to be the best version of yourself,” Stuver said, the station reported.

Since joining Verde for its inaugural season in 2021, Stuver has partnered with local nonprofit organization Current Initiatives to host a number of free laundry days throughout the city, KXAN reported. 

The longtime MLS veteran recently served as a panelist in a South by Southwest discussion (SXSW) called, "Athlete Activism: Using Sport for Social Good,” in which he talked about his role in social issues, the station reported.

According to Austin FC's website, Stuver has logged four starts and 360 minutes during the current season. He has deflected 10 out of 13 shots against him in that span. 

The 6-foot-3-inch, 181-pound Stuver, who was born in Mayfield, Ohio, logged nearly 3,000 minutes on the pitch during the team's inaugural season, according to MLS.com.

Austin FC is 2-1-1 as of Thursday (March 31). After starting its sophomore season as one of MLS's best attacking teams, Verde seeks its third win after playing to a 1-1 deadlock with the Seattle Sounders on March 20 and falling 1-0 to the Portland Timbers on March 12. 

KXAN reported that the club has been tabbed to play in its first Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament next month and will commence play in the event's third round.