Dan Hunter would like your help. He’s looking for someone who could really use a new furnace.
Dan and his family own Airco Heating and Cooling in Langley. Through their business, they see a unique opportunity to give back.
He heard someone at an industry conference last year tell how they donate their services to help someone who really needs a hand.
Dan thought that replacing someone’s furnace would be a great way for Airco to contribute to their community. A furnace can be a crippling expense for someone who’s struggling, and it’s not always top-of-mind when people are looking for ways to help.
“A new high-efficiency furnace can make a huge difference in someone’s health, their comfort and their safety, and obviously their finances,” Dan says. “It’s fundamentally the centre of the home. It’s really important that your mechanical system operates properly because everything else depends on it.”
The Spirit of Giving
Dan came home from that conference and set up the Spirit of Giving campaign.
“The campaign drew a lot of interest,” he says. “There are so many people in need in our community and it can be heartbreaking to learn about their circumstances.
“Our selection committee chose a family that was grieving a tragic loss. They desperately needed a new furnace, but at the time they just couldn’t deal with it.”
Airco rolled in and took care of the install so the recipients could focus on their family. “It was extremely emotional but we were grateful to have the opportunity to help them during their most difficult days,” Dan says. “The experience reminded us that life is precious and we should all appreciate the time we have together.”
The idea is to help someone who is struggling, whether their challenge is financial or another kind of hardship. And it’s often a friend or family member who is able to identify the person needing a hand.
“We’re looking for people who have really had a rough go,” Dan says. “And we’re looking for a friend or family member to say these folks need help, and this is why they need help.”
The spirit of giving has been part of the company’s culture from the start.
“When my uncle started this company years ago, he understood that giving was part of service,” Dan says. “He said, ‘We’re in the service business. When you’re talking to your customers, ask them ‘How can I be of service?’”
“Back then I didn’t really understand what he meant, but now I get it. It’s that we really don’t understand what people need until we ask. And you can’t help people if you don’t know what they need.”
You can nominate yourself or someone else through Airco’s “Spirit of Giving” page.
Airco Heating and Cooling is accepting nominations until Dec. 31.
