Baran-Unland: How social media landed a friend in hot water

We’ve all heard stories about the drama on social media.

We’ve heard how posting the wrong post or “liking” or sharing the wrong post can land someone in hot water.

But landing in hot water isn’t such a bad thing – especially if your hot water heater is broken and you can’t afford to fix it.

Thanks to a couple of Facebook posts, the generosity of half a dozen anonymous donors and help from Shorewood HUGS and Comfort First Heating and Cooling in Minooka, a person in need got a need met.

Here’s what happened.

A Will County senior with chronic health issues living on a fixed income asked for recommendations on Facebook. She needed her water heater repaired. But she also needed a company that would accept payments from her. Friends made some suggestions, and she followed up.

One company came to her house and replaced the thermal coupling for $20 because someone had anonymously donated the labor.

Two days later, she was out of hot water again. The same company came out, assessed the problem and decided she really needed a new water heater. The cost of the heater plus installation was now $1,375.

Now she did not ask for help. She has a proud Marine background; asking for help is not in her nature. But the cost of the water heater was beyond her budget.

So someone else asked for the help on her behalf. Just 48 hours later, the woman had a new water heater installed in her home, all paid through donations. She had been without hot water for most of two weeks and couldn’t wait to take a hot shower.

All it took was one social media post, one phone call, one wish sent to Shorewood HUGS (a grassroots, nonprofit organization that has a Hugs & Wishes program to brighten people’s lives and give them hope), the generosity of Comfort First Heating and Cooling in Minooka (for donating the labor), and private donations totaling more than $400.

That’s the kind of drama I enjoy on social media.

Here’s how Shorewood HUGS works. People simply submit a wish for another person and Shorewood HUGS reviews it. Obviously, Shorewood HUGS can’t grant all wishes. People must live in a certain radius to Shorewood HUGS, wishes must cost around $500 and the wish must be grantable. Recent wishes include concert tickets for a woman with breast cancer and a skydiving experience for a man with lung cancer.

But Shorewood HUGS can’t grant wishes without donations from the community. For more information, to submit a wish and to donate, visit shorewoodhugs.org.

For more information on Comfort First Heating and Cooling in Minooka, visit comfortfirstheatingandcooling.com.