Grateful for warm hearts as area sees near record lows

The wind chill was expected to get down to 22 overnight Tuesday and of course, that’s the morning that my furnace decides to go on the fritz.

I wasn’t the only one having those problems, I learned when I called the repair service. They’d had people waiting since the previous Friday and probably wouldn’t be able to that day.

It made me think how a lot of us take pride in holding off as long as we can before first turning the heat on for the year. I bet furnace repair folks wish we wouldn’t. That way problems could be discovered before they’re urgent, and we’re on the phone asking as nicely as possible, if they could just spare 10 minutes.

I was lucky, and possibly the last call of the day Tuesday, but my heat was back on by the evening.

I joke, but I can’t help but think on these cold days how lucky I am to have the choice of when to turn the furnace on, and how high or low I want to set the thermostat.

Many in our region aren’t as lucky.

That’s why I’m grateful to places like Grace Christian Fellowship Church. Every year the church members organize the Warm Coats from Warm Harts winter clothing drive and hand the items out at the beginning of November.

It was held Wednesday in the parking lot of the Black River Coliseum.

They distribute about 500 coats every year to people in need.

I know many churches in our area offer programs like this and others that offer utility assistance for those who struggling.

As one church volunteer put it Wednesday, “We are all in this together. We all need to help and encourage each other.”

I couldn’t have said it better. Thank you to everyone who helps with these programs.

Donna Farley is editor of the Daily American Republic. She can be reached at dfarley@darnews.com.