Ellsworth ‘Christmas in July’ drawing for free air conditioning units under way
It has always been expensive to replace the air conditioning unit for your home. And with inflation, the housing boom and the supply chain issues, the cost has gone through the roof.
However, every year there is a ray of hope for people who don’t have the money to replace their failed or failing central air unit, that has long since seen better days.
Ellsworth Heating & Cooling holds an annual Christmas in July AC giveaway, where lucky homeowners will get a new central unit, including installation.
William Barnes, president of Ellsworth Heating & Cooling, said this is a way to give back to the community, and that there’s never been a time where people have been so desperate than right now.
“Air conditioners have definitely become more expensive. We’ve has astronomical increases of 52 percent over the last 18 months,” Barnes said. “Copper and metal aren’t up right now. I wish I knew why.”
The giveaway has had many iterations since it started in 2004. It started with first one, then two units given, away. It also went a few years to where the recipients are chosen at random.
There will be three this year, determined by need before being drawn at random. During the COVID years, they looked for someone who had been affected by the illness.
“Bad things happen to good people and we’re trying to keep it in the community and take care of it,” Barnes said. “We’re going to take their stories and make sure they’re realistic and we do our research. We’ve had people sign-up with $600,000 homes.”
Those applications Ellsworth sees as legitimate are then assigned a ticket and the winners are then drawn.
Lennox and Trane have each donated a unit for the event. Last year, Ellsworth bought the unit themselves after a third company didn’t step up and it looks like they’ll have to this year as well.
The winners will be announced at a luncheon in early August, pandemic permitting.
Lennox International also does a giveaway in the fall called Feel the Love, in which Ellsworth also participates. They take the remaining applications, find one or two that really stick out and submit them to Lennox, which will then give away a unit.
Applications started being accepted around June 1 and will continue until the end of July.
Applications can be found on their website, Facebook and in the office. They are also on the North Fort Myers Chamber, Rotary and Civic Association websites.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com