Cool runnings: Teacher who works 3 other jobs wins air-conditioner for Chandler home
An elementary-school teacher who works three other jobs received a new air-conditioning unit on Friday afternoon at her Chandler home.
Cindi Morton is a single mother of three daughters and a science teacher for Herrera Elementary School in Phoenix who recently found out her air-conditioner was going to die.
"I found out a couple weeks ago that my air-conditioner was on its last legs and it would not survive the summer," Morton said.
Morton said she reached out to the Living Chandler Facebook group and asked for help when she found out about a contest to win a free air-conditioner.
"It's very rare for me to nominate myself for anything because I am always looking for ways to put other people into better situations," Morton said.
Morton said she had many friends who nominated her, in part because of the long hours she works.
Morton said she currently works four jobs throughout the week, as a fifth- and sixth-grade science teacher, a local tutor specializing in math and biology, a respite caretaker for families with emotionally disabled children and as a Lyft driver.
"I had a few friends from around Chandler that decided I should be the one to get it," Morton said, moments after she was surprised with the news with a knock on her door Friday afternoon. "Here I am ready to get a brand new air-conditioner on my house."
Matthew Coates and Tia Coates are two Realtors at Revelation Real Estate who created the Facebook networking group Living Chandler and hosted the giveaway for a new air-conditioner.
"We started Living Chandler a couple of years ago, and this is the second time we awarded an A/C unit to a member of our group in need," Matthew said. "We came up with the idea because we wanted to do something that was really impactful to the community."
Mathew said Cindi was chosen out of 50 entries for the new air-conditioning unit because of the difficult circumstances she is in.
"Not only is she a teacher, which they are going through some challenges right now, she is a single mom, she is raising three children, she has three jobs and she just took on a fourth job," Matthew said. "Her air-conditioner was more than on its last leg and it seemed that she really stood out."
Living Chandler partnered with Croffoot Heating and Air Conditioning of Chandler, which donated the unit for the giveaway.
Kirk Croffoot, owner of the business, said that he was happy to make the donation.
"Cindi was the most deserving," Croffoot said. "It broke my heart to have a single mom who raised three kids to have to work three jobs and pick up a fourth one."
This is the second consecutive year the Living Chandler group and Croffoot have partnered for an air-conditioner giveaway.
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