Bryan County United Way has received a supply of fans they will be giving away to help residents blow out the rising temperatures.
Pam Robinson, UW director, said supplying box fans to the needy is a program the agency has had for about eight years.
She recalled a situation in a prior year when she delivered two fans to people.
“Their house, it had no front door, they had a cardboard box that was the front door,” Robinson said. “The windows were the same way. They were so thankful. They had electricity, they just didn’t have windows or doors. “When that happened, that’s when I decided I’m going to do this because a lot of times, people will come to me and ask if United Way would get involved in the project.”
Robinson said the program has built up through the years because of OG&E and other donors.
“They at first were the only ones I got fans from,” she said. “OG&E every year provides fans. They started out at 30, then it went to 35, now we counted 55 this year and I was so blessed that they increased it to that much and they donate all of those fans to us.”
When it was so hot last summer, Robinson said people were calling and UW didn’t have the money to buy all of the fans, so she contacted CMC, who agreed to contribute. Texoma Manufacturing, Fusion Bible Church and Cherokee Communications also contributed.
Mike Ridgway, owner of Durant Lumber, was able to order fans at a good price.
Robinson said that last year, almost 500 fans were given away and this year it will probably be 350.
Fans can be obtained by stopping by the Bryan County United Way office, 101 W. Main St., in the former Bryan Hotel building. Robinson said she has given fans to Hands of Hope, the Durant Senior Citizen Center and the Kemp Community Center.
“I’ve given them to groups and to the senior citizens center, to Hands of Hope, which they’re really good to distribute things and I was told this year that they set up some new rules to be careful who gets these fans and it only is for the neediest of people,” Robinson said. “A lot of home health care nurses will come and get one.”
OG&E in a news release, announced they have already given away 260 fans in the Ada and Durant areas to those who may be at higher risk for heat-related injury and illness. OG&E partnered with local nonprofit organizations that serve these vulnerable populations, including Irving Community Center, Golden Years Senior Center in Konawa, Samaritans of Pauls Valley, Bryan County United Way and Our Neighbors Cupboard.
This summer, OG&E is donating 1,800 fans to customers across its service area, providing thousands of people with much-needed relief from the high temperature and humidity.
“These fans will help our customers stay safe, cool and comfortable during the hot summer months,” said Todd Thomsen, community affairs manager at OG&E. “All of us at OG&E are committed to supporting the communities we serve beyond providing power, and our fan donation program is just one of the ways we do this.”
This is the 18th year that OG&E has donated fans to Oklahomans and Arkansans in need. Since 2006 and including this year’s donations, the electric company has provided more than 20,800 fans to residents in its service area.
