With the onset of an expected colder weather, the need for heat has become vital for survival in many Sampson County homes. Due to circumstances beyond their control there are multiple individuals and families faced with little or no way to heat their homes. In an effort to contribute to the community in a tradition that Steve and Julie Stefanovich, through GO Automotive, continue to carry out, they have started a new program named the Toasty Toes Program.

Steve Stefanovich shared in an interview, that he and his wife have tried to give back something to the community each year. “We have been giving to a program for grandparents and their grandchildren, but that program is no longer operating,” said Stefanovich. “Julie and I were trying to come up with a project that we could help the community, and she came up with the idea of providing heaters for individuals or families that had limited or no heat in their homes; She named it the Toasty Toes Program.” GO Automotive, through its Toasty Toes Program, are working in cooperation with Sampson Home Health. “We are not the people who decide who needs the heaters nor do we give them out,” explained Stefanovich. “We leave the selection of receivers and the distribution to Sampson Home Health.”

The dealership is serving as a place for the public to drop off donated heaters and/or make cash donations.

“Anyone wanting to donate a space heater or make a donation can just drop by and leave them with us. We will pass them on to the center and they will get them to the ones that need them.” The GO Automotive has already made several donations themselves, and individuals have already begun to enjoy the warmth provided through the heaters. Anyone wanting to donate with a check can make the checks payable to GO’s Toasty Toes Program.

Debbie Martin, a social worker for Sampson Home Health, is excited that the Stefanovich’s and GO Automotive is so willing to help out with this project. “I was talking with some of our nurses and they were sharing that in some of the homes it was so cold that the individuals they were tending too were wrapped in electric blankets trying to stay warm. I got a list together and was hoping there might be a few heaters left from last year. I discovered that we only had one and I was trying to figure out what to do when Julie called and told us what they were planning to do,” said Martin. She went on to express how wonderful it was to have people willing to help others especially in this cold weather. “My director shared with me one situation where an elderly lady was living and the nurse was so cold while doing her duties she could hardly do what she needed to do. The nurse was able to get one of the heaters donated by GO Automotive and take back to the lady and she stated ‘So someone really does care.’ Just that small heater warmed more than that lady’s toes. It warmed her heart as well.”

The social worker also stated that there was a great need for these heaters across the county. “We have several churches that contact us wanting to help and we have more than they can handle,” she said. “Thankfully people like Steve and Julie are willing to help out.”

Stefanovich added, “We are thankful to be able to give back to the community. We have been so blessed and it is important to us that we give back to the citizens that help us.”

GO Automotive is continuing the Toasty Toes Program through the month of December. They are only the collection location for donations of heaters and money to purchase heaters. Sampson Home Health is solely responsible for getting the heaters to the ones in need.

To contact Billy Todd, call 910-592-8137 ext. 117 or e-mail siobits@heartlandpublications.com.