MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
As temperatures begin to rise, so does the need for relief from the heat — and thanks to a successful community fan drive, dozens of Reno County residents will be able to stay cooler this summer.
This year’s effort brought in 53 fans for distribution, including 44 donated through Westlake Ace Hardware’s fan drive and another nine from a separate donor. Westlake tell us that the fans are the result of $650 customer donations collected through a recent round-up campaign.
Organizers say the donations are a critical resource for families trying to lower their air conditioning bills or manage without central air entirely.
“This year is really important to us,” said Major Paul James of the Salvation Army. “When I first arrived in 2019, we had a large surplus. But demand has grown, especially with electric bills being so high. People are looking for ways to save — and a fan can make a big difference.”
Typically, the organization enters the season with leftover fans from the year before. But that wasn’t the case this year. “We started with just 60 fans, and they went quickly,” James said. “Thankfully, the weather has been a little cooler so far, but the need is picking up now.”
The Salvation Army is distributing fans by appointment only to manage the volume of activity in their building. Those interested in receiving a fan should call (620) 663-3353 to set up an appointment. Proof of address and a photo ID are required to qualify.
The Salvation Army expressed deep appreciation to Westlake Ace Hardware and the community for their support. “This drive created awareness, and that awareness brought generosity. We’re truly grateful for everyone who helped us meet the needs of our neighbors.”