'People still care': Local company donates hot water heater to family in need after historic flooding

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — Jean and Frank Morales have spent 48 years caring for their northwest Milwaukee home.

August's historic flood submerged the bottom floor; their once finished basement, now stripped to baseboards.

"The shower's gone, the vanity's gone. We have a toilet but no walls," Jean Morales said. "It's all gone."

They lost everything from their pool table to boxes of family photos. While some items can't be replaced, they are focused on what can.

After weeks of cleanup and cold showers, Jean got a call from Milestone Plumbing.

"They were going to donate five hot water heaters to people that were in need," she said.

It was a way the owner, Jessie Cannizzaro, felt she could make a difference.

"You get out of things what you put into them," Cannizzaro explained.

She sought help from the American Red Cross to find families in need, leading her to Jean and Frank Morales.

"I said, you know, maybe there's another family out there that might need this more than we do," Jean said on the phone, through tears.

That's how Cannizzaro knew it was the right match.

"My reaction when our team let us know that was, 'Jean is getting a heater,' because that's a good person," she said.

The new water heater was installed within days, saving Jean and Frank $2,000 and lifting off a little weight.

When CBS 58's Jenna Wells asked how it made them feel: "Heartwarming," Jean said, "That people still care about other people."

Cannizzaro is calling on other construction and plumping companies to do something similar.

"If every company does something, even if it's small, it's going to have a huge impact," she said.

She hopes companies and contractors can use their connections for a united cause.

"It feels good to help others," she explained. "We want other people to share in that, while also helping to rebuild the community."

For those who need new appliances or repairs due to flood damage, Milwaukee's Department of Neighborhood Services will waive permit fees through Dec. 31.

They will also reimburse any fees that were already paid before the waiver was approved.

The agency expects an estimated 2,200 applications for repair permits from homeowners.