Editor’s note: Premo Stallone, the company that installed the new unit at Pleasant Acre, is charging only $2,921 for the unit. Barry Iseminger of Premo Stallone said the company is offering the unit at it’s cost as a donation to Pleasant Acre.

NATCHEZ — When it rains, it pours, and for many non-profit agencies in today’s economy the rainy day fund has already been drained.

Still, Pleasant Acre Day School Director Mary Ann Foggo-Eidt was hesitant to ask for more help Monday when the pilot light on the school’s heating unit went out for the last time.

Eidt said the community had already done so much by responding quickly to a request for help funding repairs to the fence that surrounds the day-treatment program for adult, trainable, mentally challenged students. She hated to ask for more.

The aging heating and cooling unit was replaced Monday, but the bill will have to be paid later, Eidt said.

“I’ve been here 40 years and I do not remember replacing the (heating and cooling unit),” Eidt said. “We’ve gotten our money’s worth.”

The new unit will cost $4,000.

“We have to have heat,” Eidt said. “We had to do it. It was just too dangerous to use it like it was.”

Pleasant Acre has survived for 50 years entirely on community donations and a small amount of money generated by a thrift shop and bead shop run by the school.

The budget won’t allow for easy payment of the $4,000, and Eidt is hopeful the bill can be paid in small segments.

Donations specifically to the heating and cooling unit’s bill or the general fund can be mailed to P.O. Box 1362, Natchez, MS, 39121 or dropped off at the school’s 335 Liberty Road location.

Questions can be directed to Eidt at 601-442-2264.