Joe and I feel strongly about supporting our community throughout the year but even more so during the holidays. We do this by picking a charity each December to focus our efforts and this year we chose, “Friends of Kids with Cancer”.
This organization is devoted to enriching the daily lives of children undergoing treatment for, and survivors of cancer and blood-related diseases. Their mission is to be an advocate for these special kids and provide them and their families with the educational, emotional and recreational support needed as a result of the long hours of chemotherapy, illness and isolation.
Friends of Kids with Cancer has a proud 25-year history exclusively in St. Louis of helping kids with cancer…be kids. Jill Turec, Developmental Specialist at Mercy Clinic Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center, along with concerned parents, Molly Henry and Susie Snowden, saw the great need to enrich the daily lives and divert the attention of the patients outside of the medical treatments. These three women shared a dream that every child with cancer would experience as much fun, laughter, support and normalcy as possible. It was this idea that was the birth of Friends of Kids with Cancer. Starting in the office of Dr. Bob Bergamini in 1992, “The Toy Closet”, was launched to brighten the long gloomy and painful days spent in the treatment center.
Friends has been driven to meet the ever-evolving needs of not only the patients but their entire families. Everything they do is suggested by medical professionals and patient families. Dr. Bob’s philosophy is to “treat the needs of the entire child…not only the cancer”. Friends is such an important and unique charity because it gives back something that medicine can’t. The Educational, Emotional and Recreational programs build self-esteem and improve the quality of life to assure that the patients and their families remain positive, focused and prepared to meet their future needs.
JJ Kokesh and Son is working towards filling up “The Toy Closet” this Christmas… so that each child can choose something that provides the distraction from treatment and brings much needed joy in their lives. We are collecting:
-Toys for all ages -Legos – Barbies, babydolls
-crafts/craft kits -gift certificates for teenagers
-Art supplies -comics and coloring books
Every year, we do our best to encourage our customers,suppliers and employees to GIVE… and every single year, we are blown away by the incredible outpouring of love and generous support that we receive. We cannot begin to express our humble gratitude to all who help make this possible. Please think about how you may help us to make Christmas 2018 the most successful year ever!
For the second year in a row J.J. Kokesh and Son has teamed up with Epworth Children and Family Services to adopt homeless youth for Christmas. We have adopted three youth so far, two girls and a boy and our hope is to beat last year’s record of 5!
Epworth Children and Family Services is an amazing organization that helps hundreds of children each year, be they homeless, in foster care, or just in need extra support from caring adults at their school or drop in centers. I was lucky enough to work with this organization as a Case Manager before I joined my husband Joe to run J.J. Kokesh and Son. I truly believe in the work they do and the need to help support all children.
Donating, volunteering, and generally being participatory in our community is very important to us here at J.J. Kokesh and Son. I have been overwhelmed by our employee’s generosity, it was through their donations and our match that we were able to adopt 5 children last year. When we give back, not only do we help others but we gain so much in return.
Below is a list of our first three youth’s wishes. If you would like to donate with us this year, contact us at 636-391-1233 or email us at contact@kokeshplumbing.com.
Thank you in advance!
Everyone at JJ Kokesh and Son wishes you a Very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Effective April 16th, 2015 the requirements for water heaters are changing. The Department of Energy has updated the energy factor requirements (EF) for all gas, electric, oil, and tankless water heaters making them much more energy efficient. These new requirements could change the price, size, and exhaust systems of all new water heaters.
Tankless water heaters new minimum energy factors (EF) will be set at .82. Luckily most of the newer tankless water heaters already have an energy factor rating of .82 or better. Switching from a tank style water heater to tankless oftentimes requires increased voltage, or new gas piping, and relocation for venting purposes.
For electric water heaters under 50 gallons, which are already very efficient, the most noticeable change will be to the amount of insulation. The added insulation could increase both the height and diameter of the water heaters. For electric water heaters over 55 gallons the only currently viable technology are electric heater pump water heaters. This could mean relocation for height and diameter requirements.
Oil and Gas model water heaters under 50 gallons will now require additional insulation, electric ignition, and/or new flue baffling technology. The overall impact will be seem in larger sizing. Oil and Gas water heaters over 55 gallons will now require high efficiency, fully condensing combustion technology along with additional insulation. This will require increased line voltage, along with possible relocation of water heaters for venting and height requirements.
The biggest impact on consumers will be pricing. While the new water heaters will have a lower operating cost due to increased efficiency. Current projections place a 40% increase on water heater installation as of April 16th. This price increase is due to many different factors. The price of the water heater itself is going up in some cases over 30%. Many installations that were once a one man job will need two men as water heaters become larger and heavier. Depending on the design many of the new water heaters will now require electricity and condensing water heaters require 120 VAC. Many of the new installations will now require drains in the vicinity and/or condensate pumps. The new water heaters could also require exhaust systems, which will need to be vented through the side wall of the home or through the roof. If a heat pump water heater is installed they generally require a 10’ x 10’ room or ducting to an adjoining room to operate properly. The relocation of new water heaters may need to be done for anyone of these reason but also due to increased noise associated with the blowers, fans, condensers, ect.
Here at J.J. Kokesh and Son we are already working on training our plumbers on the new standards and acquiring all of the new technology needed to install and repair the new water heaters. For further information on the April 16th changes or to schedule a water heater installation, give us a call at 636-391-1233.
