My name is John
I have been a gas fitter for 30 plus years learning my trade in Mission BC. I ended up meeting a wonderful woman Flori and subsequently moved here to the Okanagan valley and soon afterwards Irene, Flori’s sister, soon joined us here. I started working for a local company here in Vernon called Applewood Heating as their dispatcher and as time went by I started to get to know people here in the community and at Lennox Industries.
Now Irene was always a person that enjoyed certain activities like cooking so Irene got involved with the local OAP hall and so we also got to know people in the community as well. After Irene’s death in 2015 Flori wanted to continue helping out in the community so she started working with the OAP hall as well. Through the people she met there was a short time involved with the Lumby museum, the good food box, and eventually ending up volunteering with the Lumby Food Bank.
As time goes by Lennox industries starts a program called “Heat Up” in the U.S. where people that give time and energy in their community towards their fellow citizens, the underprivileged and down and out people were also included. The local community put forward names of people that they thought would be deserving of this honor and the nominees were reviewed by Lennox. These nominees were selected in each community by a panel of judges to receive a new furnace system. This program was later to become known as “Feel the love”
At about the same time Applewood Heating was doing basically the same thing for people in the community that they thought were deserving of a newer furnace system. Sometimes it wasn’t always a replacement it might be just some gratuitous service or repair of their system to help them out. When news of the Lennox program was heard of around the office we wanted to be involved with such a great program that we said yes were in.
In the years since the program started with the help of Lennox and volunteer hours from employees of Applewood Heating we have helped many deserving family’s get the heating system upgrades they need. One such family I personally know, Melody Sanders Bosk is one of those such people. Melody who volunteers at the food bank and is in charge of organizing the volunteers as well as on hamper day making sure that supplies are distributed to the needy people of Lumby. Her furnace was in need of replacement and not expected to last much longer. I nominated her for a replacement furnace through the “Feel the love” program but because of some limitations at that time she unfortunately did not qualify. Word spread of this fact and soon reached the ears of the Lennox territory manager, Mike Janzen, who graciously brought the word forward to his bosses and through negotiations was able to have Melody’s case reviewed and eventually was granted a replacement at no charge to Melody. Robert Wilkinson whom Melody volunteers with donated funds and along with Applewood Heating as well as myself then volunteered labour and materials to do the replacement along with paying the difference to upgrade the type of furnace to the next level for even more comfort.
It comes to that time of year again where it’s time to look around you and say, I would like to help out people in need in my community.
Well the Lumby food bank is just what we need to look at and say how can we help them, help their community. With the help of volunteers like Robert and Melody the Lumby food bank, like all such organizations are struggling to help the people and the seniors of their community survive and flourish in these difficult times. With the loss of industries like logging and sawmills the community of Lumby has had its fair share of struggles with employment. Young people leaving the area to work in the oil industry in Alberta is one such example of how it Has hurt the people of lumby. Through donations and careful planning of resources they help the people of Lumby and surrounding area to get through this time of unknown circumstances with food hampers And other daily needs. They proudly give to the community and people without question, and support the needy people that arrive at their door with what little they have to give. With the declining amount of donations and the food recovery donations received from retail stores, the food bank is struggling to feed people. The food bank has needed to purchase foodstuff for the food hampers therefore they don’t have the funds to replace aging equipment.
So I think it’s time that we show how Lennox industries and Applewood Heating can show the Lumby food bank how they can “Feel the love” of these two great company’s in a wonderful community like Lumby.
The food bank society office currently has an old Bryant 80% efficient furnace without air conditioning in the office area. There are two reach in coolers that on their own produce a lot of heat and with this hot weather it becomes unbearable to be in the office area on hot days. In the winter with the age of the building and construction type (slab on grade) even with the reach in coolers going it is still not a comfortable place to work for the volunteers. I have gone to the food bank and repaired their furnace on a few occasions without charge to them to get them through the winter. I fear that the furnace will stop working all together.
In thinking what would be a great way to serve the community of Lumby and the people, a donation of a new heating and especially a new cooling system for the Lumby food bank society office area is needed. This would help the organization to be better equipped for their community and surrounding areas as they can continue to give a hand up for the less fortunate and elderly people of this beautiful community.
I sent an E-Mail to Mike Janzen of Lennox industries and after a few days I received word back that Lennox industries was donating the equipment for the Lumby food bank. Applewood Heating is willing to donate labour and resources to install the new equipment for the food bank and Mike would also like to be involved in the change out as well for the upcoming heating season.
The change out will be happening on September 19-20, 2022 and I would like to thank the following companies and personnel for their participation
I would like to thank the following:
- Lennox Industries for the donation of new equipment
- Mike Janzen for his support as always
- Applewood Heating for their outstanding work with volunteering material and labour to install the new equipment
- Laing roofing for donating time and materials for the roofing needs
- Avenue Pizza and Treats and Jamie for donating lunch on both days for our crews and staff it was awesome
- My wife Flori Mclean for the idea as well
Sincerely John Rusch
Applewood Heating
