For Candace Kerr, home has always meant more than four walls and a roof. It's a place of safety. A place of love. A place where people know they belong.
That belief has shaped every aspect of her life—from raising her family and running a business to welcoming children in need through foster care.
As co-owner of Sunrise Cooling & Heating, Candace Kerr and her husband, John Kerr, have spent years helping families stay comfortable in their homes. Since taking ownership of the company in 2019, they have continued a business that has served New Jersey for more than four decades, providing heating, cooling, refrigeration and commercial HVAC services throughout the state.
But while their professional mission focuses on creating comfort, their personal mission extends even further.
Over the years, the Kerr family has opened its doors to 23 foster children.
For Kerr, foster care advocacy is deeply personal.
Adopted at age 2, she understands the importance of stability and belonging. Growing up in a chaotic environment helped shape her understanding of what many children in foster care experience and inspired her desire to create something different for others.
"When I think about home, I think about safety and love," she says. "Every child deserves that."
Today, more than 3,000 children in New Jersey remain in the foster care system, waiting for permanent homes or placements.
"There are therapy appointments, trauma and hard days," she says. "But at the end of it all, you're providing a child with stability and a place where they can feel safe."
Family remains at the center of everything the Kerrs do.
In addition to running Sunrise Cooling & Heating, Kerr serves as admissions director for three American Christian School campuses and works as worship and creative arts pastor at Resurgent Church in Far Hills.
The Kerr household is rarely quiet. Their children stay active through competitive soccer with Hillsborough Soccer Club and Princeton Soccer Association, as well as competitive dance. Adding even more energy to the mix are five Yorkies and Yorkie-poos that have become beloved members of the family.
Despite a demanding schedule, Kerr encourages parents to focus on simple moments of connection rather than striving for perfection.
"I think parents carry a lot of guilt," she says. "You don't have to do everything perfectly. Sometimes 10 or 15 minutes of intentional conversation can mean more than anything else."
That philosophy carries over into the way Sunrise Cooling & Heating serves customers. Kerr describes the business as relationship-driven, with a focus on building trust that extends beyond service calls.
"We're not interested in being transactional," she says. "We want people to know we genuinely care."
Those relationships often lead to conversations about family, life challenges and even moments of prayer during difficult circumstances.
Whether she's supporting a foster child, helping a family through her church or serving customers through Sunrise Cooling & Heating, Kerr's goal remains the same: creating spaces where people feel cared for.
Because at the heart of every home isn't a heating system or an air conditioner. It's the people inside—and the love that makes them feel safe.
To learn more about Sunrise Cooling & Heating and its residential and commercial services, visit sunrisecoolingheating.com.