Community Services
Heat the Town
Every fall, SP-TACCA member contractors and students volunteer their time and skills to inspect and service heating systems for elderly and disabled residents — completely free of charge.
About the Program
Keeping Our Neighbors Warm — Free of Charge
The Heat the Town program is SP-TACCA's annual community service event held each fall before the cold season hits. Member contractors, apprentices, and trade students fan out across the South Plains to visit homes of elderly and disabled residents who may not be able to afford heating system maintenance.
Volunteers inspect furnaces, replace filters, clean components, and make minor repairs — ensuring every home they visit is safe and ready for winter. No cost, no catch. Just skilled tradespeople giving back to the community that supports them.
The program also serves as a hands-on learning opportunity for HVAC students, who work alongside experienced professionals in real-world conditions.
1,450+
Homes Served
Elderly and disabled residents have received free heating system service since the program began.
25+
Years Serving South Plains
Heat the Town has been a South Plains tradition for over two decades.
In the Field
Skilled Hands, Warm Homes
The Human Side
More Than a Service Call
Every visit is a chance to connect with a neighbor, offer peace of mind, and remind our community that skilled tradespeople care about more than just the job.
Our Volunteers
The Team Behind Heat the Town
Additional Resources
Find Help in Your Region
SP-TACCA's Heat the Town program serves the South Plains area of Texas. If you live outside our region, the Texas Regional Council can connect you with your local Area Agency on Aging for heating assistance and other services.
Find Your Local Area Agency on AgingExpand the Mission
Start a Heat the Town Initiative in Your Region
SP-TACCA's Heat the Town program has served the South Plains community for over 25 years — and we believe every region of Texas deserves the same. If your Area Agency on Aging is interested in launching a similar free heating assistance initiative in partnership with your local HVAC trade association, we'd love to help you get started.
We can share our program model, volunteer coordination approach, and lessons learned so your community doesn't have to start from scratch. 28 Area Agencies on Aging. 1 Mission. Together, we can Heat the Town for older Texans across our state.
Why It Matters
No older adult should have to choose between unsafe heat and no heat.
44,000
Home fires caused by faulty heating equipment nationally
234
Lubbock fires related to improper heating
1,400+
Texans sought treatment for carbon monoxide in 2021
65+
Older adults face elevated hypothermia risk
Space heaters account for nearly one-third of heating fires but the vast majority of related fatalities.
The Program Model
A simple pathway to safer homes. Trusted partners find the need; qualified contractors assess and repair; aging services connect ongoing supports.
Find
AAA and trusted partners identify eligible households.
Assess
Qualified contractors volunteering will complete a safety-focused heating system evaluation.
Repair
Qualified contractors correct heating and safety issues, including CO/smoke alarms.
Connect
Unresolved needs are referred back to the right resource.
Partnership Power
No single organization carries the whole mission.
HVAC Association
Leadership, technical guidelines, skilled labor, tools, and repair decisions.
Area Agency on Aging
Trusted referrals, client coordination, eligibility screening, and wraparound services.
Community Partners
Contractors, suppliers, sponsors, schools, fire departments, media, and volunteers expand reach.
Our Call to Action
Check In
Reach out to older neighbors, family, and friends — especially during cold weather.
Help Them Heat
Ensure homes are warm and safe. Assist with repairs, weatherization, or accessing heating assistance.
Connect Them
Combat isolation by helping older adults stay socially connected and informed.
Support Local Services
Partner with your local Area Agency on Aging to strengthen programs that serve older Texans.
Together, we can:
- ✓ Prevent cold-related emergencies
- ✓ Reduce isolation and improve well-being
- ✓ Build stronger, more caring communities
Ready to start?
Pick a convener. Recruit one HVAC partner. Set your pilot date.
A statewide partnership working together to ensure no older Texan is left in the cold.
Download the full program brochure:
Join Us This Fall
Whether you're an HVAC professional, a student, or a sponsor — there's a role for you in Heat the Town.