(As part of OG&E’s fan distribution program, John Koons, OG&E Community Outreach Coordinator; Allison Terrill, OG&E Community Outreach Coordinator; Paul Durrett, Salvation Army Social Services Manager; Kyle Sexton, OG&E Heavy Hauling Coordinator; and Victor Teran, OG&E Heavy Hauler pass out fans at the Salvation Army of Central Oklahoma to help keep local residents safe and cool in the summer heat.)
Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company (OG&E) recently donated 1,800 electric fans to seniors and families with low income across its service area to help residents stay safe and cool during the hot summer months.
Throughout May and June, OG&E volunteers handed out fans to residents in Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas who are at higher risk for heat-related injury and illness. To ensure fans were distributed to community members who need them the most, OG&E partnered with local nonprofit organizations that serve these vulnerable populations.
For many of our neighbors, the high temperatures in the summer can be dangerous to their wellbeing,” said Janet Bowen, Information & Assistance Specialist at Eastern Oklahoma Development District Area Agency on Aging in Muskogee. “We are thankful to partner with OG&E to help ensure seniors in our community stay safe and cool in the heat.”
Air conditioning is not always a viable option for those with limited or low income. Air circulation from fans like the ones donated by OG&E create a breeze that can help keep body temperatures cooler, therefore helping residents avoid heat-related illness.
“Keeping our customers safe and cool in the summer heat is a top priority here at OG&E,” said Kelli Hayward Walsh, OG&E Community Outreach & Engagement Manager. “Our fan donation program is an effective way to provide assistance to the members across our service area that need our help the most.”
(OG&E donates electric fans to seniors in need at the Irving Community Center in Ada, Oklahoma.)
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.
In addition to fan donations, OG&E helps customers stay safe and comfortable during the hottest months of the year by partnering with local libraries, senior centers, churches and other locations throughout its service area to open Cool Zones. Cool Zones provide heat-wary residents a place to go and escape the heat during the hottest times of the day. A list of the 2024 Cool Zones is available at oge.com/coolzones.
Source: press release