r SPANISH FORK — On Saturday, November 13, members of the community came together to help provide a free furnace and A/C unit to a local family in need.
David and Carla French are both unable to work and on a limited income. When their heating and air conditioning units went out, there was no way for them to pay for the replacement.
David has muscular dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair. Carla has health problems related to having been hit by a car in a crosswalk in 2008. Neither can work right now.
“We just could not get the finances to be able to do this,” David French said.
Serve Daily publisher Chris Baird used social media to bring the community together on the French’s behalf by posting about their plight.
After hearing about the French’s predicament, both HRC Climate Services and Triple T Cooling and Heating donated equipment and labor to get the family a new heating and air conditioning system.
“Competitors working as a team to help someone in need, I thought was pretty cool,” said French.
French said Saturday was a day of service for their family. Besides the 8 employees from the two different heating and cooling companies that came, 6 or 7 people from the French’s LDS ward, along with other community members, helped clean out the garage, rake the leaves and trim the lilac bushes. The Provo Elk’s Lodge brought pizza to feed everyone.
“It’s just a miracle that this ever happened and I’m so grateful for living in Spanish Fork because the town came together to help someone in need,” French said.
When Paul Casey, owner and operator of HRC Climate Services said each year HRC helps out with projects like this one. “We just want to make sure people are taken care of when they need it,” he said.
“We are a part of the community. We’ve lived here for 26 years and have raised our children here and we always try to help out where we can,” said Casey.
Brad Tanner, president of Triple T Plumbing, Heating and Air said, “We always try to keep an eye out for people that are in need that we can help with some of our skills and talents.” He saw the social media post about the French’s situation and it looked like a good fit.
“With Utah’s summers and winters, you need to have cooling and heating. It’s important to have them running safely and efficiently,” said Tanner.
Tanner said working with HRC was a unique opportunity and helped them to be able to do more for the French’s because of the shared cost.
The companies also repaired some ductwork and put in an air cleaner system that will be easier for David to maintain. His employees volunteered their time on Saturday to do the work.
French said the installation was a long-awaited and much needed. The French’s old unit went out on June 2 and the couple endured a tough, hot summer. With winter and cold weather coming, the situation was dire.
“I’m still in shock,” French said. “I’m trying to realize it happened. It’s just amazing how people came together. Miracles do happen — they still do.”
