Widow Wins Free Heater from Local Businesses
LANDERS — The temperatures last weekend dipped below freezing, but not before Carolyn Gilham could enjoy her new heating unit, installed by Diversified Heating and Cooling on Dec. 16. Gilham was the winner of the Furnace for a Family contest held in partnership with Hi-Desert Publishing Co., US Air Conditioning Distributors, Diversified and Mitsubishi Heaters.
“As a local business owner, I have always wanted to give back to my community. I thought it would be great to bless a family during this very cold season,” Diversified’s Robby Thiele said. Beginning in November, letters came in nominating individuals to be recipients of a free heating unit this winter season. One letter, in particular, stood out.
The request came from a widow who has lived in the Landers community since 1986. After losing her husband in 2014, Gilham has been trying to maintain a 30-year-old propane wall heater on her own. That was until she was chosen to receive her Christmas gift a little early this year.
“It is more than I could have imagined. It’s absolutely beautiful. I am just so happy and warm,” Gilham said. “But it’s like I said before, I would have been just as happy for another person if you had chosen them. This is just the most special kind of gift.”
The installation of the ductless, high-efficiency mini-split system was completed about midday, just in time for homemade cookies from the unit’s new owner.
Story by Jessica Gibbs – Hi-Desert Star. (Read Original Story)
