Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church Pastor BJ Plattenburg knows the often unseen needs in the Dugan neighborhood of Conroe.
The church at 509 S. 3rd Street in Conroe has collected air conditioners and other household items like vacuum cleaners for several years, Plattenburg said.
“In the last two years, we really saw a need for air conditioners,” Plattenburg said. “We haven’t been able to keep up with the demand. Last year people were calling needing air conditioners but we ran out. I felt so bad.”
During a conversation with a breakfast group in June about the triple-digit weather, Plattenburg shared a story about a 93-year-old resident who was living without air conditioning.
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Within a few minutes, the group opened their wallets and collected more than $500 to purchase several window units.
“It was beyond elation,” Plattenburg said. “I wish I was a poet to put in terms how it makes me feel. I went there to get breakfast but I think the Lord had divine intervention that the conversation came up that morning.”
Pastor Anthony Shelton with the West Tabernacle Church at 1900 FM 2854, said it was surprising to learn there are so many residents living without air conditioning.
“We have discovered there are so many people not only in the city but in the rural areas,” Shelton said. “It’s been a blessing but an eye-opening situation. People are so appreciative of a 5,000 BTU window unit.”
Since then, the group has purchased and donated more than 30 units to residents in Conroe and throughout Montgomery County.
Former Councilman Duke Coon started the breakfast group about a year ago, which meets each Saturday at Honor Cafe at 103 N. Thompson and is open to anyone and includes city leaders, business owners and pastors of several churches.
While the men’s donations have been critical, the help from the Conroe Lowe’s store has been key, Coon said.
During a trip to purchase a dozen units, Coon said he was approached by a man asking what they were doing with the units, curious if they were reselling them.
“I said we are giving them away and installing them for the needy,” Coon said learning the man was store Manager Will McBride. “He said ‘if you are serious, I’m going to give you a discount.’”
McBride sold the units at cost to the group.
“I’m new to Conroe and what I have learned is people in Conroe really care about each other,” McBride said. “Lowe’s gives us the power to take care of customers when it comes to stuff like that so that’s what I did.”
McBride, who has been in Conroe for about a year, said as long as he has the units, he will continue to discount the units for the group.
Councilman Harry Hardman, who has helped donate and install several units, said the effort is “truly” humbling.
“This is just a huge need,” Hardman said. “Lowe’s has been a great partner.”
