Want to help?
Fans may be dropped off during business hours at the Senior Life Center at 434 Prior St. Box fans are preferred and donations are tax deductible. Donations are also being accepted to purchase fans. Contact Merry Howard at 770-503-3351.
Polly Williams knows the value of some fresh air.
She is one of the recipients of a free box fan this summer through the Gainesville-Hall County Senior Life Center’s Beat the Heat fan campaign.
"It’s just so hot, and you need to stay cool," Williams, 77, said. "It really helps with the AC bill, too."
The program has become an annual staple, but this year’s donations may face a pinch because of the economy.
"With the economy, we haven’t received a lot of donations, and we don’t want our seniors to go without assistance," said Merry Howard, manager of the center. "Some don’t have air conditioning and aren’t accustomed to how hot it gets. Fans really help with circulation."
The center just started the program this week and has yet to receive donations but already has a waiting list for distribution.
"We just don’t have the supply yet," Howard said Tuesday. "More people are requesting fans this year so they don’t have to run their AC as much, and I think a lot of us take it for granted in our homes and businesses."
Williams said although she has family in the area to help her, many seniors don’t.
"This program would be great for people who don’t have family around to help them shop," she said.
"It could really help the homebound seniors or Meals on Wheels program during the summer."
The small gift makes a big difference for the wallet, Howard said.
"Using a fan to lower the AC bill can mean the difference in paying for medicine or not," she said. "It’s not safe at all to do that, but some people think they’d rather be cool."