MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
As summer temperatures begin to climb, the Salvation Army of Hutchinson is better prepared to help residents stay cool thanks to a donation of 79 box fans from Westlake Ace Hardware.
The donation is part of Ace Retail Group's annual Fan Drive, a nationwide effort that has provided more than 78,000 fans to Salvation Army locations across the country. Every dollar donated during the campaign remains in the local community to help those in need.
Westlake Ace Hardware has participated in the program for 13 years, and store management says supporting the community remains a priority.
"It's really, really important," Amy Saiz the store manager for Westlake North said. "We enjoy doing it and contributing to our community."
Saiz said the store plans to continue participating in the fan drive for years to come.
The donation comes at a critical time for the Salvation Army, which expects demand for fans to increase significantly as hotter weather arrives.
"Our fan supplies are getting lower," a Major Paul James of the Salvation Army said. "It's been cooler so far, but on the hot days we see a lot more people coming into our building. I know come July and August we're going to see an influx of people when it gets up to 100 degrees and we have heat advisories."
The organization says receiving the fans early in the summer helps replenish its inventory before the busiest part of the season.
"This makes a big difference, especially early in the season, to get supplies up so we can help those that come in and need help," James said.
Residents needing a fan are encouraged to call the Salvation Army to schedule an appointment. Staff will check whether applicants received a fan the previous year as the organization works to stretch its limited supply. Last year, the Salvation Army returned to distributing fans on an every-other-year basis for most recipients due to increased fan costs and limited donations.
Officials say exceptions can be made for those with urgent needs.
The Salvation Army credits partnerships with businesses like Westlake Ace Hardware and support from local shoppers for making the program possible.
"Our community partners are vital to what the Salvation Army does," said James. "We rely on donations for practically everything that we do. Without the support of Westlake Ace Hardware helping out with this, it would be near impossible to do this. We're also thankful for the community members that came in and supported the fan drive. Without that help, things like this wouldn't happen."
The donated fans will be distributed throughout the summer to qualifying individuals and families as temperatures rise across the area.