Back in August I wrote to Oil Heat Cares with hopes of receiving help with our boiler that we so desperately needed.  At the time, I was 5 months pregnant with our first baby and our boiler was randomly shutting off leaving us with no hot water in the house.  When we restarted it, it would emit fumes and was clearly a major safety and fire hazard. 

My husband and I both work six days a week, he’s a laborer and I’m a florist. A new boiler wasn’t financially within our reach and to say we were stressed about the cold weather arriving in a few short months was an understatement.  

In early November, just as the temperatures were about to drop, our dream came true. Volunteers from the Garden State Chapter of OESP came to our house on a Sunday and installed a brand new boiler, hot water tank and thermostat.  Our struggle for hot water and heat was over.  We had forgotten what it was like to turn on the shower and be able to jump right in, wash dishes without having to wait for warm water or take a warm bath to ease my achy pregnant body.  Because of these generous and gracious gentlemen we had no more fumes, no more trips down to the basement to restart the boiler, no more coming home from work to an ice cold house and no more emergency calls to our service company when we couldn’t get it restarted.  Our heating issues were finally solved!

We are so grateful that we have been given this gift by your incredible program, Oil Heat Cares.  We are so very thankful for Paul, Ed, Tom, Joe, Dick, Ken, Jim, and Artie who gave up their Sunday back in November to ensure that our baby would be welcomed into a warm, safe home.  Our hearts have been so full because of the generosity of these men and your organization.

On December 31st, 2018 in the early afternoon we welcomed Dakota Marie Boothby, at a healthy 7lbs 2oz.  We brought her home on January 2nd to our warm, cozy, safe, fume-free house.  As first-time parents, the peace of mind that you have given us is immeasurable, one less thing to stress about as our family grows.

Thank you truly,

Hilary Boothby  

P.S. – As firm believers in “paying it forward,” my husband Adam and I hope to one day give back to the Oil Heat Cares program.