Community Service

In mid-February, a Fish Window Cleaning crew cleaned the windows of a local dementia enrichment center in Belton, Texas, free of charge—a gesture that lifted spirits and brightened the facility. As part of its ongoing commitment to contributing at the local level, dozens of Fish Window Cleaning franchises throughout the U.S. volunteered their services during Random Acts of Kindness Week. Each February, communities nationwide observe the week set aside for good deeds, which was launched by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation in 1995. Fish Window Cleaning, founded in St. Louis in 1978 by Mike and Linda Merrick, serves commercial and residential clients, cleaning interior and exterior windows, gutters, chandeliers, and skylights. A natural fit With over 250 local franchises nationwide, Fish’s coast-to-coast footprint uniquely positions it to mobilize its cleaning teams and significantly impact Random Acts of Kindness Week. “One of the things we pride ourselves in throughout any market is being a valuable and contributing member to the local community,” said Randy Cross, president of Fish Window Cleaning. That community mindset explains why Fish prioritized Random Acts of Kindness Week. “It just aligns across the board with the ethos of who we are,” said John English, director of franchise development for Fish. English, who is also a franchisee in the St. Louis metro area, added that the Fish franchisees have a history of donating their services before being formally asked, such as providing free cleanings for businesses struggling after the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re seeing franchisees do amazing things, like dress up as superheroes outside of windows at hospitals for kids,” he said. “So when [the request] became a little bit more formal, we knew that we would have a lot of people raising their hand to be a part of it.” Franchisee stories Franchise owner Jack Williamson—a 5-year owner in Killeen, Texas—led his team in cleaning the windows of the Dementia Enrichment Center. “We cleaned the windows for the whole building, for the whole location,” Williamson said. “It was nice to see that huge, dramatic change, and to see how my team was part of that, and how [the clean windows] impacted the center’s staff and the folks they service.” In Manassas, Virginia, Lona Bryan, a franchise owner for 1 ½ -years, led her team in cleaning the local Boys and Girls Club’s windows. She decided on this location after attending a Prince William County Chamber of Commerce event hosted by the club. Upon entering, she noticed the space looked exactly like it did 15 years earlier when her children played there. “Same paint, same carpet, same everything,” Bryan said. “I wanted to do something nice for an organization that otherwise wouldn’t be able to get their windows cleaned. I realize there are some places where that type of maintenance is just not in the budget.” Bryan’s team cleaned all the club’s windows, inside and out. “We even cleaned the windows that were in the back that only the students would see,” she said. “It was probably even more important for the kids to see the clean windows, not just the visitors.” Bryan especially remembers the joy on the director’s face when the job was done. “They were just so happy and grateful that we chose to clean their windows,” she recalled, and stated her belief that community service is a positive obligation, “To whom much is given, much is required.”

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