NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) – Each week, over 40 volunteers work in the THRIVE Peninsula pantry packing bags of groceries for families in need for years.
However, their location on Warwick Boulevard has a big problem – no air conditioning.
In fact, THRIVE Peninsula executive director Angela York says it can reach up to 80 degrees in the pantry.
“They sweat. These are people who give their days to come and pack and that can be unpleasant from a temperature standpoint, ”said York.
In search of a solution, she was put in contact with Brandol Bradshaw with the Warwick Mechanical Foundation through the General Contractors Association.
With this connection and a donation from Damuth Trane, they were able to install what would have been a $ 10,000 HVAC system for free.
10 On Your Side was there as volunteers worked to make this happen.
Bradshaw says it was a great project to support.
“Someone in our community is trying to help others in our community as we started to spread the word, we found that a lot of our customers and some of our employees have actually benefited from their growth, so this gained momentum as we started, ”says Bradshaw.
This new HVAC system ends a six-month renovation of the facility, which was made possible through volunteers and donations.
Part of these renovations included a “volunteer appreciation station” and a new three-door refrigerator.
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