St. Cloud Single Mother Receives Special Christmas Gift

ST. CLOUD -- A local single mother of three was recognized for her positive impact on the community and awarded a brand new furnace this holiday season.

Lori Smith of St. Cloud received the Finken Plumbing, Heating and Cooling/Bryant Community Heroes Award after being nominated by her sister, Lisa Adams. Along with the award, Smith received a new two-stage Bryant furnace that was installed just before Christmas.

Smith was recognized for her volunteer efforts at her church and at Tri-CAP, along with working two jobs and caring for her three teenage children.

"I cried with my sister when I read her nomination [of me]," Smith said in a statement released to the media. "I'm so honored -- it's one less thing I have to worry about."

St. Joseph-based Finken Plumbing, Heating and Cooling partners with the national furnace distributor, Bryant, for the Community Heroes program that honors "ordinary people doing extraordinary things in their community."