As autumn hit Minnesota, local volunteers made sure the homes of people in need will be safe and warm for the heating season. More than 300 low-income senior and disabled homeowners in the Twin Cities, Mankato and St. Cloud area communities received free furnace inspections, repairs, and smoke alarms, thanks to two local unions and their union contractors.
Project "HEAT'S ON", a community service project in its 19th year, is meant to combat home heating hazards, including fires and carbon monoxide poisoning that result from the lack of maintenance.
More than 350 volunteers from the St. Paul Pipefitters Local No. 455, Minneapolis Pipefitters Local No. 539 and the Minnesota Mechanical Contractors Association formed two-person teams after their early morning breakfast Saturday, Sept. 18, at the Continuing Education & Conference Center (formerly the Earle Brown Center) and were assigned a list of people in need of their services.
Qualifying households were identified with the help of local human services agencies including the Ramsey Action Programs, Community Action for Suburban Hennepin, the Minneapolis Community Action Agency, and Washington County HRA.
"The success of "HEAT'S ON" proves that unions, business and government can work together in partnership," said Steve Pettersen, executive vice president of the Minnesota Mechanical Contractors Association.
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St. Paul Pipefitters Local 455 HEAT'S ON volunteers Daryl Crowe (left) and Keith Bonse inspect a furnance in St. Paul for an elderly homeowner. |
"Heating related fires are one of the leading causes of residential fires in Minnesota." said Mike Johnson, business manager for Minneapolis Pipefitters Local 539. "Our goal for this program is to keep our senior and disabled homeowners safe for the upcoming heating season."
"The senior and disabled homeowners we served appreciate the work our members do for them" said Jerry Barnes, business manager for St. Paul Pipefitters Local No. 455. "Our volunteers are very gratified knowing they have helped people in need of their services."
"HEAT'S ON" was started in Minnesota in 1986 and has grown into serving communities in numerous states. In the Twin Cities, "HEAT'S ON" has provided more than 19,600 hours of heating system services to 4,750 households valued at over $1,922,000.
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As autumn hit Minnesota, local volunteers made sure the homes of people in need will be safe and warm for the heating season. More than 300 low-income senior and disabled homeowners in the Twin Cities, Mankato and St. Cloud area communities received free furnace inspections, repairs, and smoke alarms, thanks to two local unions and their union contractors.
Project “HEAT’S ON”, a community service project in its 19th year, is meant to combat home heating hazards, including fires and carbon monoxide poisoning that result from the lack of maintenance.
More than 350 volunteers from the St. Paul Pipefitters Local No. 455, Minneapolis Pipefitters Local No. 539 and the Minnesota Mechanical Contractors Association formed two-person teams after their early morning breakfast Saturday, Sept. 18, at the Continuing Education & Conference Center (formerly the Earle Brown Center) and were assigned a list of people in need of their services.
Qualifying households were identified with the help of local human services agencies including the Ramsey Action Programs, Community Action for Suburban Hennepin, the Minneapolis Community Action Agency, and Washington County HRA.
“The success of “HEAT’S ON” proves that unions, business and government can work together in partnership,” said Steve Pettersen, executive vice president of the Minnesota Mechanical Contractors Association.
![]() |
St. Paul Pipefitters Local 455 HEAT’S ON volunteers Daryl Crowe (left) and Keith Bonse inspect a furnance in St. Paul for an elderly homeowner. |
“Heating related fires are one of the leading causes of residential fires in Minnesota.” said Mike Johnson, business manager for Minneapolis Pipefitters Local 539. “Our goal for this program is to keep our senior and disabled homeowners safe for the upcoming heating season.”
“The senior and disabled homeowners we served appreciate the work our members do for them” said Jerry Barnes, business manager for St. Paul Pipefitters Local No. 455. “Our volunteers are very gratified knowing they have helped people in need of their services.”
“HEAT’S ON” was started in Minnesota in 1986 and has grown into serving communities in numerous states. In the Twin Cities, “HEAT’S ON” has provided more than 19,600 hours of heating system services to 4,750 households valued at over $1,922,000.