HOUSTON – On a sweltering day, 59-year-old Vernell Meloncon, an out-of-work medical billing specialist, is doing everything she can think of to somehow stay cool.
From electric fans, to rubbing ice on her face and chest, to filling bags full of cold water, nothing is working for Vernell or her daughter Deja.
“This heat is just killing us, we can’t sleep, we can’t stand it, and we feel trapped,” Vernell said.
You see, Vernell and Deja have been living without air conditioning since last June.
Vernell lost her job six months ago and has been surviving on unemployment benefits, but has had no way to pay the more than $3,000 it will cost to have her 30-year-old air-conditioning system rebuilt and repaired.
“I don’t have the money to get it fixed. I’ve called all of the area agencies for help of some kind, but all of them said they didn’t have the money for help. I just don’t know where to go,” Vernell said, wiping tears from her eyes.
A single mother, who raised three children on her own, Vernell applied to multiple community help agencies, to churches, and has applied for bank loans, but was turned down every time.
That’s when Vernell decided to contact Spencer Solves It.
Now, working with the heating and cooling experts at John Moore, we are going to completely rip out Vernell’s wrecked AC system and install a brand new, state of the art, $10,000 air conditioning system donated by Goodman Heating And Cooling and professionally installed and set up by the hard-working crew at John Moore.
“Wow, that is just amazing, look at that. I don’t believe it,” Vernell said as the new unit was being brought off the truck.
Vernell was beaming and so are Claire and Hannah Valentine, who own John Moore, along with their father.
As for why they wanted to go this far and expend this much effort to help Vernell and her family, the sisters said it all comes from the heart.
“Well, Houston is our home, Houston is our community and we just love the opportunity to give back. We have a chance to change someone’s life in this case, and we want to do it,” Claire said.
All of it means that the Meloncons' sweltering summer of heat and sweat is finally over.
“Bill, there are just no words to describe how I feel. I really appreciate this from the bottom of my heart. Now, I need a hug,” Vernell said as she started to break down in tears.
If you have a problem you just can't solve by yourself and it looks impossible, contact Spencer Solves It on our tipline at 713-223-TIPS or email us at solvesit@click2houston.com.
