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Cleaning for a Reason began as an idea years ago when Debbie Sardone, owner of Buckets & Bows Maid Service, took a call from a potential client inquiring about house cleaning. After providing the quote, the woman declined, saying, “I can’t afford that now—I’m in cancer treatment,” and hung up.

Debbie, whose mother was a cancer survivor, was stunned. This was before Caller ID, so she couldn’t call back. Disappointed she had missed the opportunity to help the woman, Debbie made a company policy to provide free home cleaning whenever her company encountered a woman battling cancer.

As it turns out, Debbie wasn’t the only one eager to lend a helping hand. In 2005, Debbie shared her story with other cleaning companies at the annual trade show for ISSA, The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association. She shared that it was these women, undergoing the physical, emotional, and financial rigors of cancer treatment, who needed professional house cleaning services the most. Debbie was inspired to take the idea nationwide, creating Cleaning for a Reason, a nonprofit that connects women battling cancer with local companies that would clean their home for free. “We’re the matchmaker,” explains Debbie. “We match the patient with the maid service and we support the local maid service with brochures and materials about our program.”

In 2017, Cleaning for a Reason was adopted by ISSA Charities, the charitable arm of ISSA, and expanded its focus from serving women with cancer to households battling cancer—any woman, man, or child in active cancer treatment qualifies for services. The nonprofit also started offering fundraising and corporate volunteer days for companies and organizations interested in working with Cleaning for a Reason to support their community.

Cleaning for a Reason has grown to more than 1,200 cleaning partners, serving cancer patients throughout the United States and Canada. Based in Lewisville, TX, the Cleaning for a Reason office runs with a small staff and volunteers to process more than 1,200 patient applications each month.

Moving forward, with the active engagement and support of the cleaning industry and ISSA Charities, Cleaning for a Reason plans to reach hundreds of thousands of households in the United States and Canada impacted by cancer annually. In doing so, Cleaning for a Reason envisions becoming the recognized name in friendly, neighborly support for individuals and families who are faced with the challenge of a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

“As we mobilize the entire industry around cancer support, We Will Change The Way The World Views Cleaning.” ~ISSA Charities