Ajax company cleans house for cancer patients

Date AddedAugust 22, 2009 10:56:22 PM

Author

Jul 31, 2009 - 04:30 AM
By Melissa Mancini
DURHAM -- A local business is setting out to help female cancer patients in the region -- by scrubbing their toilets.
The Maids Home Services, based in Ajax, is taking part in 'cleaning for a reason' a charitable organization based in Texas. Partner companies contact the organization, which helps match women who are having cancer treatments with free cleaning services.
Those who are weak because of chemotherapy or radiation have one less thing to worry about during such a stressful time.
It was a natural fit for the Ajax company to take part, said Lynn Mulroy, who owns the local franchise with her husband.
"It was another opportunity to support the community," she said.
The Mulroys opened their business more than a year ago and have enjoyed incredible success so far, Ms. Mulroy said.
In its first year the local franchise was recognized by its parent company as start-up franchise of the year. The company has 110 regular customers and does a lot of large project-type work like cleaning a home after a move.
The Mulroys have 13 employees, 12 of whom are cleaning staff who go out in groups of four to tackle domestic cleaning throughout the region. They serve all areas of the region including Uxbridge and Port Perry and have clients as far east as Bowmanville.
While the Mulroys were at The Maids annual convention to collect their award for start-up of the year, they learned about 'cleaning for a reason' and decided to get involved.
"It speaks to our industry and it builds onto our objective to continue to support the community in a very direct way," she said.
This isn't the first community project the company has donated its services to. When the first Habitat for Humanity home was built in Durham, The Maids sent a team out to do a through cleaning of the house before the family moved in. Ms. Mulroy and her employees also did a Christmas drive, collecting donations from clients to give to Denise House, a shelter for abused women and their children, in Oshawa.
They have also donated certificates for services to silent auctions for Big Brothers and Big Sisters in Port Perry and the Special Olympics when they were held in Whitby last year.
So far the Maids have not done a 'cleaning for a reason' home cleaning yet because they are still looking for patients to help. They have one woman going through the registration process now, which is done by calling the main charity organization.
Once a woman goes through the registration process, she will be eligible for one free cleaning every month for four months. A team of four cleaners would go to her house and typically stay for about three hours doing a thorough scrub, Ms. Mulroy said.
The employees' enthusiasm has really helped drive the company's involvement in the community, Ms. Mulroy said.
"The employees are really excited by the (cleaning for a reason) venture, they really feel good about giving back," she said.
To contact cleaning for a reason:
Website: www.cleaningforareason.org
Call: 1-877-337-3348
To contact The Maids:
Website: www.maids.com
Call: 905-427-1522