The People Behind the First Impression

Walk through the doors of the Lake Chelan Community Center on any given morning, and you’ll notice it right away.

It’s not something you always think about, but you feel it.

Clean floors. Fresh air. A sense that the space is cared for—loved, actually.

That experience doesn’t happen by accident.

Behind it is a small, local team led by Leti Bahena, owner of EverClean Home—alongside her partner, Avilene Torres—along with a group of family members who show up every day, often before anyone else arrives, to make sure the facility is ready.

And while most people may never think about the work behind that experience, Leti does.

What matters most to her isn’t just getting the job done—it’s how people feel when they walk through the doors.

“I think just the compliments,” Leti says with a proud smile. “People walk in and say, ‘It smells so good,’ or ‘It’s so clean.’ That means everything to us.”

From One Airbnb to The Community Center

EverClean Home didn’t start as a large commercial operation. In fact, it didn’t even start as EverClean Home.

It started with one opportunity—and two women with a willingness to try something new.

After spending 17 years with Columbia Valley Community Health, including 11 years as a Pharmacy Tech, Leti was ready for a change. What began as cleaning a single Airbnb for a homeowner who needed help quickly grew through word of mouth into a trusted local business.

That growth eventually led to a connection with Maribel Cruz—and an opportunity that would change everything.

“Maribel told us about The Community Center,” Leti recalls. “It was bigger than anything we had done. But we knew that if we wanted to grow, this was the next step.”

A Family Business at Its Core

Today, EverClean is still rooted in family. 

The team includes mothers, sisters, and in-laws. People who not only work together, but care deeply about each other and the work they do.

“It was important to us to make this a family opportunity,” Leti says. “To know they’re being taken care of, and that we’re building something special together.”

That sense of pride shows up in the details.

From glass doors to stairways, from restrooms to gathering spaces, the team focuses on the things most people seldom notice—unless they’re not done well.

“Our team is very detail-oriented,” Leti explains. “They see things others might miss. That’s what makes the difference.”

The Quiet Work That Makes Everything Else Possible

Cleaning is often invisible work.

When it’s done right, it fades into the background.

But at The Community Center, it plays a central role in every experience—from a first-time visitor walking in the door for their morning cup of coffee, to a family attending a child’s birthday party, a young woman’s quinceañera, or a group of coworkers attending a business event.

“There are people who come here for the first time every day,” Leti says. “Their first impression is what we leave behind.”

That responsibility isn’t taken lightly.

For larger events, the team plans ahead. After busy weekends, Mondays require extra hands. Every day is about maintenance—keeping the building consistently welcoming, not just occasionally clean.

“If we stay on top of it every day,” she says, “it never becomes too big of a job.”

More Than a Job—A Reflection of the Community

For Leti, the work is personal.

She grew up in the Chelan Valley, watching her parents build a life through hard work in agriculture. That same work ethic now drives what she and her team are building.

“We want to create something our kids can be part of someday,” she says. “Something they can grow into and be proud of.”

And being part of The Community Center has deepened that connection.

“There are so many services here,” she says. “The Boys & Girls Club, the coffee shop, the programs… I always tell people—just come in and look around.”

A Final Word of Gratitude

Before the conversation ends, Leti pauses to recognize the person who helped open the door.

Maribel Cruz—who was first a residential cleaning client—is also the Executive Director of the Lake Chelan Community Center.

“Maribel has been such a blessing to us,” she says. “She helped us see that we could be bigger than we first thought.”

And in many ways, that’s exactly what this opportunity made possible.

What started as a single cleaning job has grown into something more. It’s a business built by family, a team built on trust, and a role in something that serves the entire community.

Every morning, before the doors open, that story is already at work.

You just feel it when you walk in.

To make a tax-deductible contribution, visit our fundraising page or contact Executive Director Maribel Cruz at maribel@chelancommunity.org.