Editor
The Western Downtown Parade brings a lot of fun for Central Kansas Free Fair-goers and on Thursday it will raise awareness about a cause that hits home for many residents.
A fun-loving group, the Silly Old Broads, is helping promote a Merry Maids project that helps cancer victims according to Linda Stoffer, a member of the group. They will be putting together a float entry touting Merry Maids, which works with Cleaning for a Reason, a Lewisville, Texas organization.
Sandy Abeldt, Abilene manager of the local Merry Maids, 419 N.E. 14th, said her organization is one of several that works with Cleaning for a Reason, which is committed to providing charitable cleaning to women who are undergoing treatment for cancer. People can make an inquiry by website at www.cleaningforareason.org, or at 1-877-337-3348. The website is the preferred route.
The program allows people to do four months of cleaning, Abeldt said. The program has been helping a Solomon woman.
The Cleaning for a Reason organization matches qualified patients first, with cleaning companies that have pledged to provide four housecleaning visits to women in the program as long as they are undergoing treatment for cancer. The local cleaning services, such as Merry Maids, donate time and money. The cleaning services often look for partners to help defray costs.
Organizers note that there is a heavy demand.
Stoffer said the service is one that allows cancer victims, who continue to live at home, but because of treatments they do not have the energy to stay up with house cleaning. The light-hearted Silly Old Broads members agreed it was for the right reasons.
Abeldt said those who are recipients of the service need to provide a doctor’s confirmation.
Besides raising awareness, people can also make donations, Abeldt said.
“We’re hoping to raise awareness and the Silly Old Broads are doing a performance at the free fair,” Abeldt said. “I watched a preview and my jaw hurt so much it was so funny. They like to have fun and they like to help people.”
In addition, Candy Siko, Salina owner of Merry Maids, a cancer survivor, has also offered allowing cancer victims, regardless of sex, to apply for the program.
“My boss has dealt with breast cancer and that hit home,” Abeldt said.
She is appreciative of Siko’s support of the program and wanting to expand it so that it can help people from this area.
Abeldt said Siko’s emphasis was on the fact that the Cleaning for a Reason program is a noble cause, but only applies to women. Abeldt agrees with Siko’s philosophy that there are also single men who could use the services.
“We’re also doing a program on our own if there are single men they can go through the Salina office,” Abeldt said.
Those locally who know of someone who might be a local candidate can contact Abeldt at (785) 263-2779. She will also be on the grounds of the Central Kansas Free Fair. Abeldt will send the information to Siko.