Armstrong Plumbing honors former social worker with new AC unit

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - After 90 years of being in business, Armstrong Plumbing, Air and Electric celebrated the milestone by partnering with the LII Lennox Foundation to donate a free heating-and-air-conditioning unit to a local hero.

Estela Lopez, a former social worker that has helped families in need for years, was the recipient of the new unit in Armstrong’s “Feel the Love” campaign, sponsored by Lennox.

After her years of helping others, Lopez was the one in need this time. She said she’s been having problems with her old unit for years now including during the time of record-breaking temperatures.

“I think three years is when I really have had lots of issues with it,” Lopez said. “I’ve had to take time off from work to come home and let people in to try to work on it. It’s been hard; it really is. There’s been nights where I have gone to bed without a heater.”

Lopez now works with a local funeral home, helping families through the grieving process.

A coworker nominated Lopez and said she deserved this donation after years of selfless work. Lopez said this is a life-changing moment for her.

“The thing that stood out to us the most about Estela is her heart. She has a huge heart. She worked for Child Protective Services for many years,” Beth Carpenter of Armstrong Plumbing, Air and Electric said. “So, she has such a big heart for the community - we just felt like she was an unsung hero here in the community that needed to be recognized.”

Estela said she is grateful for the donation.

She looks forward to sleeping comfortably in her home no matter if it’s during the summer with the scorching West Texas heat or in the upcoming cold temperatures.

“I’ve been blessed this year so I thought ... ‘what am I gonna do this winter,’ honestly. It was already on my mind and maybe that’s what was stressing me a lot out, too,“ Lopez said. “Thanks to Joey, I’ll be warm this winter.”