Westar Energy donates fans to Salvation Army

With temperatures heating up at the beginning of summer, an annual donation will help local residents stay cool through the summer months.

Eldery and disabled people without access to air conditioning or other means of staying cool during hot and humid weather can receive fans from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 13 through Friday, June 15 at the local Salvation Army Extension Unit at Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries Center/Bourbon County Senior Center, 26 N. Main St.

Allen Schellack, who is the local contact for the Salvation Army, said 66 fans will be available for distribution at the center. The fans are provided by Westar Energy.

The fans are intended for elderly, disabled and those people who do not have a fun or air conditioning in their home and cannot afford to purchase one. To help the most people, each household is eligible for one fan. Applicants will need to provide identification and proof of address. Applications will be accepted until all fans are distributed, a news release said.

“The Salvation Army is helping us reach some of the most vulnerable members of our communities and help them stay safe during the heat of summer,” Cynthia McCarvel, corporate community affairs manager for Westar Energy, said in the release. “Expanding this program allows us to reach more homes and help those in need.”

Westar’s local gift of fans is part of a $60,000 fan contribution distributed throughout the communities it serves, the release said.

For more information, contact Schellack at (620) 223-2212.