A strong community is built on people showing up for one another. That spirit was at the center of our recent food drive, which rallied neighbors, customers, and team members to support families across the Metro East. Now that the donations have been delivered, we want to share a look back at the effort and thank everyone who helped make it meaningful.
Coming Together for Families in Need
The goal was simple: collect shelf-stable food for local families facing food insecurity. From single bags of groceries to full boxes, donations came in steadily throughout the drive. Every contribution played a part in filling the delivery bins, and each one reflected the generosity of our community.
Once the drive wrapped up, our team organized, packed, and delivered the donations to local partners. Those deliveries are now complete, and seeing the food reach its destination was a reminder of how powerful a community response can be.
A Small Thank-You for a Big Effort
What stood out most was how many different community members stepped forward, whether they had known us for years or were connecting with us for the first time. The instinct to give — whether it’s a single can of soup or a trunk full of groceries — remains strong in our neighborhood.
We added a small raffle as a thank-you to everyone who donated. Prizes included a 65-inch TV, a REME HALO air purifier, six standard furnace filters, and a one-year membership with BEL-O Cooling & Heating. It brought a little extra fun to the drive and helped show our gratitude.
Why Giving Back Matters to Us
BEL-O Cooling & Heating has called this region home since 1959. What began as Belleville O’Fallon Heating & Cooling, founded by brothers Leo and Paul Lugge, grew into a family-run company known for dependable HVAC and plumbing work. Their values of hard work, fairness, and genuine pride in serving the community still guide us today.
Over the decades, our team has grown to include technicians, plumbers, pipefitters, sheet metal workers, and customer service staff, many of whom have spent their entire careers helping local families stay comfortable and safe. Being invited into people’s homes is a responsibility we’ve never taken lightly, and community outreach is an extension of that responsibility. Whether we’re repairing a furnace or helping stock a food pantry, the goal is the same: support the wellbeing of our neighbors.
A Look Toward What Comes Next
As we close out this year’s food drive, we’re deeply grateful to everyone who took part. Your donations made a real difference for households that needed support. And to those who participated in the raffle, thank you for adding a little extra energy and enthusiasm to the effort. Community involvement is stronger when people can have a little fun along the way.
BEL-O Cooling & Heating has been serving the Metro East for more than six decades, and our commitment to this region has only grown stronger with time. We look forward to more opportunities to support local families, whether through community initiatives or through the cooling, heating, and plumbing services we provide every day.