On this episode of Along the Rock, brought to you by the Radar Free Press, host Kierstyn Long sits down with Taylor McDaniel of Taylor Sweep to discuss how a side gig that began in January 2024 has grown into a full-time business and an expanding community initiative focused on helping people in need.
McDaniel spent 22 years working in healthcare as a certified nursing assistant before deciding to pursue a different path. Although she still works one 12-hour PRN shift as a CNA each month, cleaning has become her primary source of income. What started as a small side business has grown to serve approximately 30 clients throughout the area.
For McDaniel, cleaning has always been more than a job. It provides an outlet, a sense of accomplishment, and an opportunity to make a visible difference in people’s lives.
Turning a Cleaning Business Into a Mission
On March 29th, McDaniel began sharing a new initiative online after encountering people who needed more help than they could afford to pay for. Rather than simply providing occasional cleaning services, she began connecting with local businesses and community members willing to sponsor cleaning hours, donate supplies, and contribute their time.
One early project involved cleaning a garage apartment in Milledgeville. The extensive cleanup took 11 hours, all covered by sponsored cleaning hours. Another project involved a deep cleaning for a family facing significant medical challenges. McDaniel was able to arrange four sponsored hours to help the family redirect its resources toward other needs.
Those experiences showed her that Taylor Sweep could do more than provide a service. With community support, it could help people who were struggling to manage their living environments because of difficult life circumstances.
McDaniel shared a video of the Milledgeville cleanup online, and the response quickly grew. People began asking how they could help, leading her to establish a business Venmo account to collect donations. Contributions of all sizes helped pay for cleaning supplies and household necessities, including rugs, curtains, and bedding.
The community also stepped up to help with the practical challenges of the project. When McDaniel needed somewhere to dispose of the accumulated garbage, residents throughout Milledgeville offered access to their dumpsters.
The response demonstrated how small contributions from many people could come together to make a meaningful difference.
A Community Comes Together for a Local Veteran
One of the most significant projects began when McDaniel was tagged in a local Sterling and Rock Falls social media post about a veteran who had reached a point where he needed help with his mental health and addiction recovery.
The veteran had taken an important step by asking for assistance, and his neighbor wanted to help him prepare for his return home from rehabilitation.
McDaniel agreed to get involved, and Molly Helms, owner of the local cleaning company Suds, offered to help as well.
With just six days before the veteran was expected to return home, volunteers worked together to transform his property. The effort extended well beyond indoor cleaning. Community members donated dumpsters, power-washed the siding, cleaned windows, mowed the lawn, cut down trees, and cleared brush.
McDaniel’s uncle, who is also a veteran, joined the effort alongside the neighbor and spent hours working outside in the summer heat. Others contributed supplies, food, and additional support to keep the project moving.
The work was physically demanding, but the team remained focused on creating a safe, welcoming environment for the veteran’s return.
Then another unexpected obstacle emerged. As McDaniel arrived to complete the finishing touches, she discovered that the property’s electricity had been disconnected. Restoring service required $900, an expense she could not cover herself.
Instead of giving up, she shared the situation online and asked the community for help.
Within two and a half hours, donations covered the entire $900 electric bill. The neighbor contacted the electric company, explained the circumstances and requested assistance. Within a short time, the electricity was restored so the team could finish preparing the home.
The response was a powerful example of how quickly a community can mobilize when people have a clear way to help.
The support continued beyond the initial cleanup. McDaniel still checks on the veteran several times a week, and their relationship has grown into a lasting friendship. She has watched him make progress with his health and well-being while helping him safely enjoy his home and outdoor space.
For McDaniel, that ongoing connection brings back one of the aspects of healthcare she misses most: building relationships with the people she helps.
Expanding the Reach of Compassion
The early projects quickly developed into a larger initiative. McDaniel has completed nine compassion cleans and raised approximately $5,800 through the program. She has also created an application process through a Google form on her website, allowing people to explain their circumstances and request assistance.
At the time of the interview, approximately 35 applications were pending, demonstrating the need for additional support throughout the area.
McDaniel is continuing to raise money through community donations and fundraisers. One fundraiser featured a quarter of beef and a cooler of pork donated by a local farmer. Additional prizes came from area businesses, including a $100 gift card from Molly Helms of Suds and a choice of custom T-shirts or a hoodie from Ruby’s, a boutique printing business in Dixon.
Within 16 days of announcing the prizes, the fundraiser had raised approximately $2,200, with community members continuing to contribute additional items and support.
The initiative has grown through a combination of financial donations, donated services, supplies and volunteer labor. Each contribution helps McDaniel reach more people while covering the real costs associated with completing the projects.
She has also worked to make the program accessible to people who want to help in different ways. Donation buckets and posters have been placed at participating local businesses, and community members can contribute through several payment options.
Helping Without Judgment
A central part of McDaniel’s approach is making sure people can ask for help without feeling ashamed of their circumstances.
She recognizes that difficult situations can happen to anyone. Clutter, unfinished household tasks, and overwhelming living conditions can develop when people are dealing with illness, financial hardship, mental health struggles, or other challenges.
McDaniel’s goal is not to judge how someone reached that point. Instead, she wants to help them move forward.
Her background has shaped that philosophy. She credits her own family and support system for providing stability during difficult times, and she understands that not everyone has access to the same resources.
Through Taylor Sweep, she hopes to extend some of that support to people who might otherwise have nowhere to turn.
The work also reinforces the connection between a person’s surroundings and emotional well-being. A clean, organized, and safe home can make everyday life more manageable, particularly for people who are already facing significant challenges.
For McDaniel, the reward comes from seeing those changes firsthand. She can witness the transformation of a home, build relationships with the people she helps, and see how community involvement creates opportunities for a fresh start.
How to Support Taylor Sweep
Community members interested in supporting the compassion cleans can visit the Taylor Sweep Facebook page for information about donations, available resources, and the application process.
McDaniel accepts support through Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal, although Venmo is her preferred option for keeping track of contributions. Donation buckets and posters are also available at participating businesses throughout the area.
People who know someone who could benefit from a compassion clean can also direct them to the application available through the Taylor Sweep website.
Whether someone contributes money, cleaning supplies, equipment, volunteer hours, or connections to other local resources, every contribution can help make a difference.
As Taylor Sweep continues to grow, McDaniel remains focused on helping people in her own community, one home at a time. Her experience demonstrates that meaningful change does not always require a large organization or a complicated plan. Sometimes, it begins with one person recognizing a need, making a few phone calls, and allowing others to help.
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