Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Frontline worker to get HVAC system
New Age Air wants to recognize those who helped during the pandemic
LIMERICK » There have been a lot of stories coming out of the coronavirus pandemic. Some stories have been very difficult to hear.
Some stories have given us hope — stories about giving back, helping out, making sacrifices — in a time of need.
New Age Air Inc. of Limerick wants to hear some of those stories, to recognize someone that has worked on the frontline during this health crisis.
The company plans to give away a complete heating and air conditioning system to a healthcare worker, first responder — including police, fire, EMTs — in appreciation for their service through the pandemic.
Nominations are due to the company by June 15, and a winner will be chosen on June 19, according to Jason Schondra, general manager, New Age Air Inc. in Limerick.
“Really, we were trying to find a way to show appreciation,” Schondra said about why the company decided to conduct the event.
The nomination form can be found on New Age Air’s website, and asks for contact information for both the nominator and nominee. It also asks for a brief description of why the person should be selected. Nominators are asked to describe “how this frontline worker has demonstrated a specific act of valor, or has gone above and beyond the call of duty, or has demonstrated extraordinary community service,” according to the nomination form.
Schondra said once all the nominations are in, they will be reviewed before a winner is announced.
“I am pretty confident there will be a handful of stories that will stand out,” he said.
Schondra said eligibility for the contest is about a 15 mile radius from the center of Pottstown, although he added that if someone falls “a little out of that we would consider it.”
Once the winner is selected, New Age Air will sit down with the recipient to see what kind of system is needed.
“The system will be tailored toward what the person wants and needs. At the end of the day, the person will get what they need and want,” Schondra said.
New Age Air was determined to be an essential business during the pandemic stay-at-home orders in Pennsylvania, but Schondra said that on March 17, the company decided to “pause its operations” to be sure clients and employees were safe. That pause lasted four weeks.
“It got us thinking that a lot of people have no choice to stay at home. We could choose to do it — but firefighters and hospital workers don’t have a choice to stay home. We were trying to find a way to show appreciation to them for that sacrifice,” he added.
Schondra said that once he was at home — that time with family became very valuable.
“As difficult as it was to not go to work, being able to have uninterrupted time with family was priceless,” he said, adding that frontline workers didn’t get that time with their families.
“That’s what this is for. We want to thank and honor them for their service.”
New Age Air is a second-generation, family owned and operated company with 17 employees, that serves homes and businesses in Montgomery, Chester, Bucks and Berks counties.
Schondra said when the company ceased operations temporarily, the employees were furloughed. The company applied for and received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in early May and brought employees back.
The company conducted training on keeping trucks and equipment sanitized, and on communicating with clients. That training lasted about two weeks, according to Schondra, before full services resumed.
“We reached out to clients and told them what we are doing, and asked if that is enough and will they let us in,” he said, adding that for the most part people said yes.
To access the nomination form visit http://newageair.com/ nomination-form/. For more information about New Age Air visit https://newageair.com.