July’s brutal heat indices have intensified focus on the annual summer fan drive organized by Helping Hands and United Way of Lowndes County. Requests for fans are up and often come from seniors who have inadequate or no air conditioning. Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle is making a big push to help out.
“We felt this was something we needed to be a part of. Extreme heat and the elderly population can be a deadly combination,” said Donna Grant, marketing coordinator for the hospital.
In just two days, the hospital raised $1,320 by offering Baptist-branded items from the marketing supply rooms at a sales table near the main cafeteria. Cups, tote bags, mouse pads, T-shirts, commemorative car tags, lunch bags and more filled tables, as well as Baptist duffel bags and umbrellas.
“At $17 per box fan, that $1,320 will buy around 77 fans,” said Grant. “And six boxed fans have been donated so far, too. We will have at least one more sale day in front of the cafeteria before our drive ends July 31.”
Helping Hands Executive Director Nancy Guerry said, “This is such a boost; we’re so grateful. As summer heats up, we find more of our neighbors in a position to have to make the hard choices of keeping utility costs low by not running what air conditioning they have or buying food or prescription medicine, and some don’t have air conditioning at all.”
To date this summer, the fan drive has been able to fulfill 78 fan requests. Not only do they help with essential cooling, “they also express to people in our community that, as neighbors, we really do care and want to make people’s lives a little bit better,” said Guerry.
For more information about the community fan drive, or to donate box fans, contact Guerry at 662-328-8301.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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