Almost everyone is hoping for a brighter 2021, and for two Central Texas families the start of the year is a bit more comfortable.

In December KWTX teamed up P&E Mechanical Contractors in Waco and Ellis Air Systems in Killeen/Temple/Belton for the second Cozy Christmas giveaway on KWTX.COM.

More than 150 area residents nominated homeowners they felt were deserving of new heating and air conditioning systems, free of charge.

Just before Christmas, Oticia Childers of Waco and Damon Russell of Lake Belton were selected by an independent panel as the winners of Cozy Christmas 2020.

Homeowner Damon Russell was nominated by close friend Annette Elizabeth Green, who detailed in her nomination letter the numerous struggles Russell has overcome and how he has developed a passion for working with those suffering from mental illness.

Russell has lived in the Lake Belton home his grandfather built in the 1960′s for many years, but he has been without the funds needed to fix the ailing heating and air system that has sat unusable for the last decade.

“It will be a great benefit and I’ll be able to heat the whole house, whereas I was using space heaters and window units before,” Russell said.

Ellis Air Systems of Killeen not only installed a whole new system in Russell’s home, but also included an air purification system that’s designed to help in the fight against COVID-19.

“We like to give back to the community that gives so much to us throughout the year,” said Scott Ellis who owns Ellis Heating and Air.

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