Local builders answer the call to provide much-needed air conditioning system for Lehigh Acres woman and son with brain cancer
Builders Care, with the help of local Lee Building Industry Association (BIA) members and volunteers, has completed the installation of a new three-ton air conditioning system at the Lehigh Acres home of Linda and Shane Washburn. Shane, age 36, has suffered with brain cancer since birth and is wheelchair and bed bound. Prior to Builders Care providing the air conditioning, the Washburns were unsure if their current system would continue to operate during the hot summer months. Keeping the air regulated is a medical necessity for Shane since he relies on many different machines for his survival including oxygen 24 hours-a-day. In less than eight hours, local building partners of the Lee Building Industry Association Builders Care program installed the air conditioning system and provided the family with a new refrigerator.
Several local businesses contributed to the project including Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties, Sunset Air and Tropic Supply. Due to budget constraints, the partners initially expected to replace the failing unit with another used system. Upon removal of the old air unit, building partners decided that the best option to help ensure the family’s safety was to provide a new system.
When volunteer companies told Linda that she would be receiving an entirely new air system, she was so excited. Through tears of joy, she shared her appreciation, “I have been trying to figure out how to sell my stuff in order to get enough money to do this. I cannot thank you enough,” said Linda Washburn, homeowner and mother of Shane.
This is project no. 120 for Lee BIA Builders Care, increasing the total emergency construction services provided to over $1.9 million since 2006. Photos of this project and previously completed projects can be found on the web site at www.LeeBuildersCare.org .
Builders Care is the nonprofit charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association (BIA). Its objective is to provide emergency repairs and construction services to elderly, disabled and economically disadvantaged people who are unable to obtain home repairs through traditional means. Builders Care enlists the volunteer services of Lee BIA members and leverages grants and donated materials to provide construction and remodeling services to qualified homeowners throughout LeeCounty. Builders Care is headquartered at the Lee BIA offices at 10501 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy., Suite 104 in Fort Myers. Donations can be made online at www.LeeBuildersCare.org, or to the Builders Care general fund at BB&T Page Field branch at 4959 South Cleveland Ave. inFort Myers. Moreinformation is available by calling 239-938-0056.
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