Residents can get help to beat the heat through fan program

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Bourbon County, Kan. -- Eligible local residents who need help staying cool during scorching temperatures this summer can now get assistance through a local program.

The Westar Energy Fan Program, which started June 20, provides free box fans for qualifying individuals or families in Bourbon County. The fans are available at the Bourbon County Chapter of the American Red Cross office, 11 N. Broadway, to eligible residents who meet certain qualifications. The program has been offered in Bourbon County since 2008.

Bourbon County Red Cross Executive Director Whendi Martin said Friday the local office received more than 20 fans and she had already given away 15 of those since the program began, a little more than a week ago.

"The demand is high," she said.

Local residents who are at least 60 years of age, meet certain income guidelines, and/or receive some type of Social Security Disability Insurance will qualify for the program. Eligible applicants may receive one fan per household. Westar Energy purchases and donates the fans which are distributed to Red Cross offices across the state.

Applicants who have received a fan the last two years through the program will not be eligible to receive a fan this year and their request will be denied, Martin said.

"If a person has received a fan in the last two years, we ask that they not apply again because the demand is so high," she said. "We usually run out of the fans."

Families or individuals may apply in person between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday-Thursday at the local Red Cross office. Those interested in applying should be prepared to provide proof of income -- such as a paycheck stub or Social Security statement -- and proof of residency -- such as a current utility bill or driver's license -- when requesting an application.

Mitzi Davis, a spokeswoman for Westar Energy, said the company distributed 1,000 fans to 18 different Red Cross locations statewide for this year's program. The fans are donated "for heat relief" and purchased by Westar in communities where the Red Cross offices are located.

For more information, call the Red Cross at (620) 223-0980.

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