DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. — Carol Matthews didn’t have a working central air conditioning unit at her home in Deerfield Beach for six weeks.
It was a daunting problem. The solution was to pay from $8,500 to $10,000, and Mathews, 82, a widow, couldn’t afford it. Without it, temperatures neared 90 degrees.
“It’s kind of depressing because you are uncomfortable,” Matthews said.
Matthews is a collector of miniature river boats. It has been her hobby for 35 years. Wood damages without air conditioning because of increased humidity.
Matthews decided to ask for help. She told her niece, who then called Joel Smith, the founder of Deerfield Beach Community Cares, a nonprofit organization.
“I was willing to invest in a room air conditioner just to help solve the problem,” Smith said, adding that he knew that wasn’t enough.
Hoping to do more, Smith shared the problem. Rixys Alfonso, the executive director of the Nonprofit Executive Alliance, contacted Mayte Padron, the community relations director at Local 10 News, who then called All Year Cooling.
“She is not paying anything. It’s upon us and our responsibility to take care of our customers and especially take care of the elderly,” said Ronnie Herrera, the general sales manager at All Year Cooling.
A crew with All Year Cooling responded to Matthews’s home the next day to assess the problem and delivered a portable air conditioning unit.
The All Year Cooling team returned a few days later with a 3.5-ton YORK air conditioning unit. It was a donation of about $10,000 that includes a 10-year warranty on parts and labor.
Matthews was smiling when she listed those she was grateful for. It was a team effort: Her niece, Deerfield Beach Community Cares, Nonprofit Executive Alliance, Local 10, and All Year Cooling.
“Thank you ... thank you to the installers and thank you to the cameraman,” Matthews said.
Community teamwork goes a long way.
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