Every year since 2004, ACCA chapters and members around the country fan out to service or replace heating systems in the homes of the elderly, disabled, or less fortunate. Although the official day falls in October, some chapters and members may opt to volunteer on another day, so ACCA has declared the entire month Heat the Country Month.

“We still live in a country where there are people who need this type of assistance to survive,” commented ACCA President Paul Stalknecht. “When they use alternative methods of heating, they risk fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. ACCA members volunteer their time and materials to help keep them stay safe as well as comfortable. What they’re doing is truly a life-saving service for their neighbors.”

In past years, more than 316 technicians participated and replaced furnaces, tuned up systems, replaced parts, and the like for their less fortunate neighbors. They have helped over 1000 families.

The chapters work with public and private social service organizations to identify families who need help. Each chapter takes its own approach to the effort. For example, ACCA San Antonio President and CEO Jack Lappeus said that his chapter worked with city agencies to identify people who were low income, disabled, and elderly.

ACCA Kansas City chapter members did furnace installations and service calls to help homeowners in the inner city. A local distributor, Washer Equipment, donated a furnace, and the local York distributor, CFM Distributors, provided furnaces to Christmas in October, which the ACCA members installed. Lennox donated a blower motor.

It’s a community service effort, but it’s also rewarding for the volunteers.

“My company has been actively involved for the last eight years,” said Steve Wilson, Wilson Heating and Air Conditioning, Dallas. “Every year we are invited into a stranger’s home to offer a much needed service that they cannot afford to pay for themselves. After a few moments we are no longer strangers. Oftentimes the homeowner is older or disabled and unable to communicate verbally, but the tears in their eyes, or the smiles on their faces tell us how much it means to them that we are there.”

ACCA members can find out how they can participate by contacting their ACCA chapter, if there is one in their area. For general information, contact Kimya Bailey Cajchun at 703-824-8845 or kimya.cajchun@acca.org.