LEOMINSTER - A local company's home heating system giveaway is helping to ensure a woman and her daughter will be warm this winter and for years to come.

Lifelong city residents and husband-and-wife business partners Jeremy and Jessica Pierce, owners of Pierce Plumbing and HVAC, LLC, have always had strong ties to their community. Their business opened in 2010; this summer they wanted to offer a free heating system to a family in need, a story detailed in a case study.

"We've been very fortunate, and it was important to us to really make a difference for someone in need," the couple said. "Some people wondered if the giveaway was truly free, but we want to reassure everyone that it 100% was. Our supplier FW Webb donated all of the materials, and we donated all of the labor to install the furnace. It felt great to be able to help someone who truly needed it.

"From the very beginning, our community has been incredibly supportive of us, and we wanted to return that kindness. We've always tried to give back, whether by sponsoring Babe Ruth teams or helping with fundraising for schools, sports, and local events. We decided to run this giveaway to make a difference in someone's life, especially for a family that needed a little extra help during the winter."

The August giveaway had an overwhelming response from community members with over 100 entries. City resident Rose Gable is the fortunate recipient of the brand-new furnace valued at around $20,000 that was installed at her home on Oct. 1.

"People shared stories about why they or someone they knew needed a new heating system," Jessica said. "After narrowing it down to five finalists, Pierce Plumbing let the community vote for the winner by sharing their stories anonymously. Rose's story really resonated with people, and she won by a large margin."

Gable had spent $1,000 on furnace repairs with another company but her old furnace still wouldn't work. With winter approaching and no money left, she didn't know how she'd keep her home warm during the colder months.

"When we called to tell her she had won, she was overwhelmed with gratitude," Jeremy said. "She kept thanking us and fighting back tears of joy."

He shared that during the installation, they "discovered some serious safety problems" with Gable's old furnace.

"The roof vent had been installed incorrectly, using a small four-inch pipe taped to a larger ten-inch pipe," Jeremy said. "This dangerous setup allowed hot air to vent into the attic, creating a potential fire hazard. In fact, parts of the roof were already starting to burn due to the heat."

He and his wife said it was important to them to help a family in need through their company that "has always believed in supporting the local community" -- and this giveaway is just one of the many ways they've shown that commitment.

"We just want to give back to the community that's given us so much. It's truly about helping where we can and making a difference."