“When every moment matters, we’re with you at every step.” It is more than just a motto here. Last week, EveryStep proved how true those words are as a true team effort came together in the nick of time to help a mom who had nowhere else to turn.
Zeare Renfro is a single mother of two young children with disabilities who works from in Des Moines. Life is hectic enough for her when she was thrown another curveball – her central air-conditioning died … in the middle of a severe heat wave … one day before a holiday weekend.
Zeare, who has been a client of EveryStep’s Children at Home and Healthy Homes programs, jumped into action. Working the phone, she called company after company trying to get someone to come out and give her an estimate. However, the heat wave and the impending holiday weekend had created a long waiting list and Zeare was unfortunately at the back of the line.
After suffering through two sleepless nights with every fan in the house pointed at her kids, Zeare reached out to Sarah Lewis, her care coordinator at EveryStep, to ask if there was anything we could do on such short notice. It turns out there was plenty we could do.
Just after noon on July 2nd, Sarah submitted an urgent Quality of Life request asking the EveryStep Foundation to approve purchasing a window air conditioner for Zeare. That already streamlined process had to be on a lightning track with EveryStep offices closing for a three-day weekend in just a few hours.
While Foundation employees were searching for air conditioners in stock at nearby stores, the request was forwarded to a Board of Trustees subcommittee for approval. One of those board members, Howard Eaton, had a better idea. There were two new window air conditioners at his house that we were welcome to loan out!
With much of the office already out early for the holiday, a crew of available employees scrambled to put the plan into action. Less than two hours after the request for help was made, a team of EveryStep employees was standing in Zeare’s driveway with two air conditioners.
The temperature outside was 95 degrees, and inside Zeare’s home it was just as hot. But, after a sweltering 30 minutes of dripping sweat and pinched fingers, the units were installed and the frosty air was pumping into the living room and children’s bedroom. 72 degrees never felt better.
After taking a few hours to soak in the cold air with her kids, Zeare put the experience into her own words over the holiday weekend:
“My central air conditioning went out on June 30, and by July 2, the temperature inside my home had climbed to between 92 and 95 degrees during some of the hottest days of the summer. As a mother of two children with disabilities, including one who has a breathing condition, I was terrified. I work from home, and as the heat continued to rise, I became extremely lethargic and struggled to function. Although I had three fans running, they were only circulating hot air. To make matters more difficult, my children have very specific dietary needs, and the only foods they will eat require the oven, which only made the house even hotter.
For days, I called company after company trying to get someone to come out and repair my air conditioner. Most businesses were completely booked, and many never answered the phone at all. After countless calls and dead ends, I honestly felt defeated. I didn't know what else to do.
As a last resort, I reached out to Sarah.
From the very moment she answered the phone, she listened. She didn't dismiss my situation or make me feel like I was exaggerating. She heard the fear in my voice, understood the urgency, and immediately began working tirelessly to help my family.
Sarah sent me contact information for multiple HVAC companies, and when those didn't work out, she started making calls herself. Throughout the entire process, she stayed in constant communication with me, updating me every step of the way. As the day went on and it became clear that getting my central air repaired before the holiday weekend wasn't likely, Sarah refused to give up. She knew she couldn't let my family spend another day in that dangerous heat. Because of her determination, she found someone willing to donate two window air conditioning units for my home that same day.
There are not enough words to express how grateful I am to Sarah and everyone involved in making this happen. So often, when people call asking for help, the person on the other end of the phone doesn't truly understand the crisis because they aren't living it. Sometimes people minimize your situation without realizing how serious it really is. Sarah never did that. She treated my family's emergency as if it mattered, because to her, it did.
This is not my first time working with Sarah, and every single time I have reached out, she has gone above and beyond for my family. She doesn't just say she will help; she follows through. She works with compassion, urgency, and genuine care.
One of the things I admire most about Sarah isn't just her ability to solve problems; it's her communication. When you're in a crisis, silence can be one of the hardest parts. You spend every minute hoping someone will call with good news. Sarah never left me wondering. She called and texted throughout the day, keeping me informed of every conversation, every update, and every possible solution. That level of communication brought me peace during one of the most stressful situations my family has faced.
Sarah, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for seeing us, for believing us, for fighting for us, and for refusing to give up. You didn't just help us get air conditioning; you gave my children a safe place to sleep, protected my son's health, and lifted an incredible burden off my shoulders.
Please also extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who played a part in helping my family. Your kindness, generosity, and compassion will never be forgotten. You truly made a difference in our lives, and I will forever be grateful. You didn't just save the day; you brought hope when we felt like we had run out of options.”
When every moment matters – in every temperature, on every holiday - every one of us at EveryStep (board members included) is there with our clients, patients, and supporters at every step.
