Resource for Women with Cancer: Cleaning for a Reason™

“One Less Thing to Worry About” is the motto of Cleaning for a Reason and the promise they have kept to more than 2000 women who are undergoing treatment for cancer.

Founder and President Debbie Sardone—retired President of Buckets & Bows Maid Service, Inc., in Lewisville, TX, and writer, popular speaker, and maid service business consultant—was moved to action after seeing the debilitating effects of cancer in her clients and employees. She also found inspiration among fellow cleaning business owners while speaking at a national conference and started the nonprofit in May 2005.

Cleaning for a Reason partners with professional, insured residential maid services around the country that agree to take two patients at a time and offer four free cleanings—one a month for four months—as a way to give back to their communities. So far, they have 660 partners in 50 states and Canada and have given away more than $350,000 worth of cleaning services.

Here’s a sampling from among the many testimonials from recipients and cleaning services:

Sara of Lincoln, Nebraska: “I am a single mother of two young children, ages 8 and 11. My recent diagnosis of cancer and the upcoming chemo and radiation was a devastating blow to all three of us. One of my main concerns was how I would continue to be the type of mom I've always been, and have the energy to maintain all the other issues of being a homeowner. I've had friends step forward and offer to do my spring gardening, bring/purchase meals, mowing/trimming/fertilizer but I knew I just couldn't possibly keep up with the cleaning. And then my friend John told me about you; what a Godsend! Truly, you are a blessing to the many women who are dealing with just these same issues. This organization is a wonderful gift to those of us who struggle just to make it through each day, and still have the energy to be the best possible Momma we can be. God bless you all!”

Sam, The Cleaning Authority: “We are performing our first C4R clean tomorrow and we are working on the schedule for another person. There is a peace knowing we are doing something good and the sincere gratitude from the woman in her struggle is humbling.”

If you know a woman who is in treatment for cancer and could benefit from this service, you can find a listing of cities at http://www.cleaningforareason.org/maidservice.php

Because demand often exceeds their ability to serve, Cleaning for a Reason is also looking for additional maid service partners as well as corporate sponsors and individual donors…so please help create a buzz.