Over the last 16 years, Ellsworth Heating & Cooling has given away free air conditioning units to dozens of area families for its Christmas in July promotion.

With the COVID-19 pandemic impacting Floridians ina number of ways, there isn’t much to be jolly about this summer.

However, Ellsworth realizes that now there are people who are out of work who need a functioning central air unit as much as ever. So, they will be giving away three complete units this summer, just under a different program name.

This year — and hopefully only this year — Ellsworth will hold a COVID-19 Air Conditioning Relief Giveaway, where either you or someone you know who has been affected by the virus in any way can win one of three complete units, fully installed.

“We want to help people who may have lost a job because of COVID or got sick and got behind,” said William Barnes, president of Ellsworth Heating & Cooling. “We made a little change this year to help people out.”

As in the past few years, Daikin, Lennox and Trane will provide the free units, with the North Fort Myers Civic Association, Chamber of Commerce and Rotary providing an assist.

What won’t happen this year is the winners luncheon at Ellsworth headquarters because of COVID concerns. The winners will be notified at their homes by someone around the first week of August.

“With social distancing and things of that nature I don’t want take the chance to expose people to anything,” Barnes said. “It’s better we go to the homes with our masks with the air conditioners.”

From now until July 31, people can apply online at www.ellsworthair.com/covid-19-ac-relief-giveaway/ and either nominate themselves or someone else and explain why that person should win the unit.

Anyone in the service area can enter. The air conditioner must be more than 10 years old and cannot be a rental or leased home or a commercial property. One entry per household.

Barnes said entries have been strong this year, at about the same level as in previous years. He added he wants to bring something positive into someone’s life.

“People are out of work and they don’t see anything positive. It’s tough to stay positive and move forward and then your air conditioner breaks down when you’re home all the time,” Barnes said.