Apply or nominate someone in need before Dec. 8
As winter settles over South Jersey and temperatures drop, one local business is once again stepping up to ensure that families in need stay warm. Comfort Now, a heating and cooling company serving Atlantic and Cape May counties, has launched its annual Holiday Heater Giveaway, a community tradition that has changed lives for more than a decade.
Through Dec. 8, residents are invited to apply or nominate someone who may be struggling without reliable heat. The process is simple: visit IWantComfortNow.com and follow the link to submit a nomination. Whether it’s an elderly neighbor, a single parent, a disabled veteran, or a family facing unexpected hardship, Comfort Now wants to hear their story.
The program began shortly after Comfort Now first opened its doors. “We started this program only one month after opening,” said owner Bob McAllister. “I love doing it and being able to help others. Over the years, we’ve given away 20 heaters and repaired at least a dozen more.”
What started as a small act of generosity has grown into a heartfelt mission supported by Bob, his sons Casey and R.J., and the entire Comfort Now team. For them, this work is personal.
“We live in this community, and we want to take care of the people in it,” said Casey McAllister. “We want to lead by example.”
The program’s impact is best understood through the stories of its recipients. The very first heater was given in 2014 to a widow who had been relying exclusively on kerosene heaters to get through the winter. She was nominated by her granddaughter—one of many loved ones who have stepped forward over the years to help someone quietly struggling at home.
According to Bob, the program is “need-based, not a popularity contest,” however, the team deeply values hearing from the public. After nominations close, the Comfort Now staff reads each submission carefully, selecting the five most urgent cases. From there, winners are chosen, and Bob personally visits each home to share the news that they have been selected.
For families without heat, that knock on the door can be life-changing.
Comfort Now encourages anyone who knows a household in need to submit their story before the Dec. 8 deadline. A warm home should never be out of reach—and thanks to this ongoing local effort, two more families will feel the true spirit of the season.
