Warm Winter Wish Stories
Community members were encouraged to submit nominations on behalf of neighbors, friends or family who were experiencing problems heating their home whether be a furnace with regular repair costs or a unit that is unrepairable. Nominees must live within Bryant's service area of Lincoln and the communities within 50 miles of the capitol city.
Winter 2023-24 Recipient
Susan
Susan's Warm Winter Wish nomination came from her daughter, Ashley, as well as other family and friends. Having raised both her and her sister as a single parent, Ashley is forever grateful of what Susan has done for her throughout her life. After hearing about the Warm Winter Wish, and Susan's recent furnace issues, Ashley took the time to make her nomination.
Last Year's Recipients
Edna
Edna's home heating system has been an issue for the last couple of years. Last year the furnace was unable to keep the home and the basement area warm enough causing her water pipes to freeze. As a result she had water leaks that needed repair in several locations. Fast forward to this year, winter of 2022-23, Edna's furnace stop heating during the coldest week we had experienced. The only air that was produced was cold. Edna and her little dog, Romeo, huddled under blankets until the outdoor temps rose and the furnace began running again. As you can imagine Edna was worried she would have to deal with frozen pipes again.
Previous Years Recipients
Karin & Matt - 2021
Karin and Matt's story is one of ongoing health issues which have stressed their family financially. Through everything they have made things work large in part to Matt's hard work and keeping a positive outlook.
Karin has learned to live with a rare form of rheumatoid arthritis. Unlike many with the ailment her condition is not one of joint pain and mobility, however it has attacked her organs and causing surprises like a heart attack and other health concerns. Karin relies on multiple medications to control her condition which has caused much of the financial stress for the family.
Amber - 2020
Amber's Warm Winter Wish is a story of a young single mother working hard to provide a roof over her three children's heads. Without any help in the form of child support, Amber works two jobs to make ends meet. On weekdays she works as a Nurse's Aide at Madonna Rehabilitation, working 50-60 hours a week. On the weekends she works at the local gas station in Sterling, NE.
Bob - 2019
As Bob's friend Sue was driving listening to Froggy 98.1 she heard information about Bryant's Warm Winter Wish. She took the first chance she had to pull over and submit a nomination for him there in her car. Living on social security Bob hasn't had the money to invest in a new furnace after his home's heating system was tagged unsafe the beginning of last year.
Frank - 2019
Frank was nominated by one of his co-workers after she heard that his family has gone with a working furnace for sometime, three years to be exact. Many take for granted how nice it truly is to come home to a warm home. Bryant came up with the idea of Warm Winter Wish nine years ago to give back to our community and help those in the Lincoln NE area that have fallen on hard times. That is exactly our take on Frank's family.
Kim - 2018
Kim's Warm Winter Wish story begins two very difficult years ago. Mike, Kim's husband of five years, was diagnosed in early 2017 with terminal brain and lung cancer. For the next year their lives were filled with many trips between their Wilber home and Lincoln for Mike's treatments. As Mike's health deteriorated and the need for additional care became more evident, Kim decided to leave her job to provide the needed care. Unfortunately in March of 2018 Mike lost his battle with cancer and his passing left a large void in the family. Mike had been a great stepfather for both of Kim's sons, ages 14 and 17. Mike was also more than Kim's partner in life; he was her “go-to” as he was handy with everything.
Bernie - 2018
Bernie's home was heated by a very old, what we call a “low boy”, furnace. The furnace itself was easily 40 - 50 years old and although it continued to run, it was without a doubt less than efficient. Bernie had several technicians in the recent years mention with its age and the rust within the heating chambers it was getting less and less safe by the year. It was suggested various times that a replacement was needed. Bernie's sister Caroline, nominated him for the Warm Winter Wish knowing that the home's old furnace didn't have much life left and was becoming less and less reliable by the day. She knew that if the furnace were to fail it would undoubtedly be a financial burden for Bernie who is on a restricted budget.
Stephanie - 2017
Bryant's first Wish of the 2017-18 Warm Winter Wish was installed on Monday, January 22nd in Stephanie's home. Stephanie is a selfless type of person by heart. Helping provide care for her aging aunt while continually helping two adult children through some tough times usually doesn't reduce bills or the cost of unplanned home repairs. Stephanie has done her best to take good care of her home, but she had not planned for the recent issues with the home's furnace or an eventual replacement.
Diane - 2017
Bryant's second Wish of the 2017-18 Warm Winter Wish was installed on Tuesday, January 23rd in Diane's home. Three years ago Bryant Air Conditioning, Heating, Electrical & Plumbing helped Diane and Don with a non-conventional Warm Winter Wish. Bryant had selected other recipients for their annual free furnace giveaway that year, but also provided free service and repairs to improve the operation of Diane and Don's aging system.
Mark & Jen - 2016
The first Warm Winter Wish of 2016 was one that broke the mold for Bryant. The Lincoln Journal Star published an article about a family in need on the first day Froggy 98.1 and 105.3 WOW FM began publicizing Bryant's Warm Winter Wish nomination period. The family of Mark & Jen had their their world turned upside down the day after Thanksgiving. Mark had been sick for weeks, finally after waiting for test results from his doctor bad news was delivered. Mark's diagnosis was adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the of the blood and bone marrow.
Marlin - 2016
Marlin is one of those people that goes out of his way to help a those in need. Which a large reason the team at Bryant felt he and his family was deserving of a Warm Winter Wish.
Marlin and his wife, Christina, may have been feeling the financial effects of Christina's back issues, but that didn't stop them from offering a helping hand to others. The couple opened their home to help Christina's sister and brother-in-law, who had a new born requiring medical attention and regular trips to Children's Hospital for treatments. Since the couple lived in more central to western Nebraska the cost of travel to and from appointments had piled up. Christina's mother also had health challenges of her own she was struggling with, again the Bergmann's opened their home to offer a helping hand.
Chelle - 2016
Chelle was selected as the third Warm Winter Wish of the 2016 program. A malfunctioning furnace is a something many of us can pay to fix, and have the means plan for the future should replacement be the next step. For Chelle who is on a fixed income due to disabling health issues even the smallest repairs can provide challenges.
Linda & Loren - 2015
Bryant's first Warm Winter Wish of 2015 was installed in the home of Linda and Loren. The Bennet, Nebraska family found their home without reliable heat in 2015 even after several repair bills.
Stacey & James - 2015
Stacey And James' home was the second wish granted in Bryant's fifth annual Warm Winter Wish. Bryant restored heat in the Lincoln home affected by the flooding rains of April 2015. All of Stacey and James Loos' hard work could not prepare them for the financial challenge of losing their furnace in 2015.
Michelle - 2015
Bryant's final furnace of 2015 will bring safe reliable heat in a home that has been without a working furnace for two years.
Michelle's home has been without central heat for two years after repairs bills became too much. Adding salt to the wound, in November the hot water heater burst, providing yet another inconvenience for Michelle and her son. The two have leaned on Michelle's older daughter who has opened her home for occasional showers and laundry.
Tara & Ryan - 2014
Tara and Ryan's lives have changed dramatically due to Tara's health. Just over a year ago Tara was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension, which affects her heart and lungs. Due to hole in her heart she experiences fatigue very quickly and causing what was before an easy task to be challenging. Although Tara's doctors told her that she would be on full disability as a result of her condition, she initially refused to accept this returned to work. She soon realized that her body could not withstand full or even part-time work. Even though Ryan has a good job, Tara's medical expenses from doctors visits and medications are enough to overwhelm anyone.
Jackie & Shawn - 2014
Jackie and Shawn's family of five have been making due for the past two winters by heating their home with only space heaters after being told their furnace was not safe to operate. Jackie is unable to work due to the condition of her health. She's lived with Rheumatoid Arthritis all her life and if that wasn't enough after the couples youngest child was born she suffered a heart attack. As a result of the heart attack she has both a pacemaker and a defibrillator.
Sharon & Chuck - 2014
Sharon and Chuck have gone two winters now without a working furnace. They have been using space heaters to warm the home since their old furnace was red tagged for safety reasons. Unfortunately the space heater can't quite keep up with the cold Nebraska winter days and nights so coats and blankets are often needed to stay warm. Chuck suffers from Raynaud's Disease, which affects blood flow to his fingers and causes painful cracking of the fingertips. The cold conditions in the home cause Chuck to wear gloves to reduce the pain he feels.
Steven & Sandy - 2013
Vietnam Veteran Steven Syslo and his wife have been using a wood stove to heat their home for the past 15 years, however due to Steve's deteriorating health he is no longer able to chop, stack or carry wood into the home. The couple have since been purchasing their wood supply and although it is difficult for Sandy to load the wood into the stove she has taken on the labor. Now faced with the cost of purchasing wood and poor health, heating their home has become a financial and physical strain on the couple.
Jessica & Cody - 2013
Jessica and Cody's story is one of hardship and determination. The couple experienced a large setback falling victim to real estate fraud, losing much of their savings, purchasing and moving in to a home only to find they were not legally the owners. With help from family members the family of five (three children) purchased the home they currently live in, however the home did not have central heating system and lacked duct work.
Angie & Treves - 2013
Treves and Angie's wish is the third Warm Winter Wish granted by Bryant Air Conditioning & Heating this year. Treves is on disability due to renal failure and dialysis until a kidney transplant becomes a reality. Due to his health and dialysis clean air and consistent temperature are necessary. Angie works full time and comes home to a full time job of raising their six children and caring for Treves. Recently the Kildare's furnace broke down while Angie was putting their boys to bed on what was one of the coldest nights of January.
A special thanks to Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems and Comfort Products for donating the equipment needed to make Warm Winter Wish happen. Bryant Lincoln would also like to thank Cornhusker Winnelson for the donation of Michelle's water heater.