In celebration of their 25th Anniversary, Flat Rate Home Service’s felt eager to give back to the community that has embraced them as a leader in the plumbing, heating and cooling industry in the southeastern Wisconsin area for a quarter of a century.
“We, at Flat Rate Home Services, take pride in our country and have an extreme amount of respect for our troops. We wanted to do something special for one of our veterans,” said Ryan Gumieny of Flat Rate Home Services.
And so, they did. Flat Rate Home Services reached out to James Duff, the Director of Milwaukee County Veterans Service Office in effort to get the word out to veterans who may be in need. Eventually, that word spread to the Michi Family – at the perfect time.
“My wife was pregnant, had lost her job and I had just found out my mother had colon cancer. We spent money on a home that we couldn’t live in and then we heard about Flat Rate’s furnace giveaway through the Naval Operational Support Service,” stated Richard Michi, E7 Chief Petty Officer.
Mr. Michi spent 21 years serving his country, both in the Navy and, most currently, the Reserves. Late last year, while living with his pregnant wife, Kris, and two small children in his in-law’s home, Mr. Michi placed a bid on a house through a foreclosure auction. The terms of the auction did not allow the Michi’s to enter the home until after closing.
The Michi’s soon discovered their new home hadn’t been lived in for years and had an oil furnace that was installed in 1954. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the furnace needed an extensive amount of repairs, which may not have even brought the furnace up to a safe and consistent level of operation.
Thanks to Flat Rate Home Services, the Michi’s are now living in their renewed warm home, awaiting the birth of their new baby.