Community Service

Last October, teams from Prestige Maintenance USA, a building service contractor (BSC) in Plano, Texas, took a break from their usual commercial janitorial jobs to dive into a heartfelt mission: cleaning the homes of cancer patients. Partnering with Buckets & Bows Maid Service from Lewisville, Texas, the company joined ISSA Charities’ Cleaning for a Reason program and provided four cancer patients in and around Plano with clean homes, offering them a reprieve from household chores during challenging times. The event was a testament to Prestige Maintenance USA’s commitment to community service. CEO Rachel Sanchez explained the motivation behind their involvement. “It’s really important to us to be able to partner with different organizations that support our community,” she explained. “On a quarterly basis, we do volunteer work, and we select a different nonprofit to support. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so we like to select something that supports patients and families that are going through cancer treatments. We thought Cleaning for a Reason was just the most perfect way for us to have a direct impact on individuals and their families. We know what an impact a clean space creates—mentally and physically.” A meaningful partnership The collaboration with Buckets & Bows Maid Service proved invaluable. While Prestige Maintenance USA typically focuses on commercial facilities, this event marked their foray into residential cleaning. The transition was made smoother by the expertise of Buckets & Bows’ crew chiefs, who provided guidance and training. “I spoke with Lucy at Cleaning for a Reason, and I explained to her that that we’re a cleaning company, but we are in commercial spaces,” Sanchez explained. “She mentioned that we could partner with Buckets & Bows and that they could provide us with a crew chief for each home that we cleaned. That way we had somebody who is very familiar with cleaning in residential spaces and could be a good leader for each group. I think that really made the day a big success.” The emotional impact Beyond the technicalities of learning residential cleaning, Sanchez shared that the day was one of profound emotional significance. “You couldn’t help but notice family pictures and, I think, instantly have some kind of connection to the individuals who live there and what they’re going through,” she said. The experience also resonated deeply with the company’s employees. “Oh my gosh, they were thrilled,” Sanchez said, explaining that the direct impact of their work made a lasting impact on the teams. “I mean, they were talking about it for weeks. So, a lot of times what we do [after these volunteer activities] is we have conversation and then survey [employees] as far as, ‘Hey, is this an organization you guys would want to work with again?’ And they all said, ‘Absolutely, 100%.’” A legacy of compassion Prestige Maintenance USA’s involvement with Cleaning for a Reason reflects their broader mission: making a positive impact on people and spaces. “Our purpose, we say, is to deliver the right people for a reliable experience,” Sanchez said. “Everything we do comes down to people and what kind of impact we can make.” The company plans to make such initiatives a regular part of their operations, with Sanchez hinting at an annual commitment to Cleaning for a Reason’s Volunteer Day. “Yeah, I think for sure we’ll probably do it on an annual basis,” she confirmed. A ripple effect of kindness Cleaning for a Reason, a signature program of ISSA Charities, has been making waves since 2006. With over US$19 million in donated services, the nonprofit has helped more than 57,000 cancer patients across North America. Their partnership with companies like Prestige Maintenance USA and Buckets & Bows highlights the power of community and corporate social responsibility. Sandy Wolfrum, ISSA Charities’ director of development, praised the effort. “Prestige Maintenance and Buckets & Bows Maid Service have truly raised the bar for hosting a Volunteer Day,” she said. “They’re making a real difference in the lives of cancer patients by providing a clean, safe haven during a tough time. The funds raised from this collaboration will help us extend our mission and reach more patients and families across North America.” For Sanchez and her teams, the day was more than an act of service—it was a reminder of the difference compassion can make. “I would just encourage any other cleaning organization to give it a chance and to sign up for a day and see how it goes,” she said. “It really does make a lasting impact.”

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