A home in Northeast Georgia without air conditioning is not a pleasant place to be in the middle of summer.

But for some senior residents, they have little choice. That's where the Beat the Heat summer fan program comes in.

Each year the Community Service Center gives box fans to those 60 and older to help them circulate air in their home.

"It helps to circulate air throughout their home so that they don't suffer form heat-related medical conditions," said Merry Howard with the Gainesville-Hall County Senior Life Center. "Even if they have air conditioning, they can save money on their electricity bill by cutting the air up a little bit and still use the fan to help circulate the cool air that they have in the house. But mostly there are senior citizens that won't run their air conditioner because they can't afford it."

The program functions off donations of new box fans.

"We haven't even gotten the first donation for this year," Howard said. Typically they take in about 150 fans plus monetary donations.

Howard does have some fans left over from last year, which will help the program get started Wednesday.

"I probably have 10 on hand right now, and I've already started getting calls," Howard said. "So far I think I have about eight people on the list (to receive fans)." Last year the program distributed 113 fans.

Seniors who need a fan should call the Gainesville-Hall County Community Service Center at 770-503-3330.

Those wishing to donate fans should drop them off at the senior life center at 434 Prior St. in Gainesville.