A year of giving
One of our favorite things is giving, and one goal we had for this year was to give back to our community every month. As 2019 comes to a close, we wanted to take a minute and reflect on the organizations we have donated to or partnered with this year, and to thank all of the people who helped make it possible.
We started our “Year of Giving” in January, by gifting a new comfort system to a deserving individual named Mollie. Mollie, who works two jobs and is always willing to serve other people before herself, was nominated by her friends and family – and because of them we were able to present this hardworking mother of four with a brand new system that will keep her family comfortable in any weather.
In March we partnered with the Central Missouri Humane Society. For every new EZ Pay Comfort Club Member that joined that month we pledged $15 to CMHS. By the end of March, with the help of our awesome new customers, we donated $1,000 to CMHS!
April 2019 brought us the privilege of hosting a virtual food drive for The Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri. We pledged $2,000 toward the drive and encouraged our customers and community to give as well. Thank you to everyone who was able to donate toward such a great cause! We were even given the chance to donate our time by helping out with food sorting and packaging.
During the month of June, we partnered with City of Refuge, an organization that provides assistance for recently displaced refugees. This organization is very near and dear to our hearts. According to Garrett Pearson, Executive Director at City of Refuge, “The ultimate goal is not to just provide, but to help them up, so they can in turn help somebody else up.” City of Refuge provides assistance with things like learning how to cook, navigating a grocery store and finding reliable transportation to a job.
In August we partnered with Welcome Home, a local organization that offers support and resources to homeless and at-risk veterans. In 2018, Welcome Home served 350+ veterans and their families over 35,000 meals, and since then, 83% of those that they assisted have achieved independent housing! Every new EZ Pay Comfort Club maintenance plan we gained during the month received one month free, then we donated that $15 savings directly to Welcome Home. After signing a total of 36 new EZ Pay Comfort Club plans we doubled down and donated a total of $1,080 to Welcome Home!
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so we wanted to do our part by supporting Ellis Fishcel Cancer Center’s 10th Annual Artful Bra Silent Auction and Reception as a sponsor. This was such a fun event to attend! We even made our own artful bra to be auctioned off. The funds raised at this family-friendly event will go towards cancer patients who are unable to pay for essential screening and treatments, including mammograms, imaging, transportation, surgery expenses, pharmacy expenses and much more!
To wrap up our 2019, we are giving away another Comfort System to an individual or family in need within our community. Many of us don’t have to worry about spending the winter without heat, or the summer without cool air, but there are so many in our community that do. After accepting nominations, we pass them along to a panel of judges outside of Chapman who then begin the tough job of narrowing the nominations down. It is truly a beautiful and joyous moment when we get to notify our recipient that they will soon be receiving a brand-new heating and cooling system.
With less than a week left in 2019 a quote that stands out to me is this one:
“Give your hands to serve and your hearts to love.” – Mother Teresa
Everyday this past year we have done our level best to serve our customers. We love our community and strive to do everything we can to give back and serve the people in it. As we look forward to 2020, and our 62nd year in business, we also look back to appreciate all the customers and community members that have helped us to reach this point.
From our family to yours – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.