COLUMBIA, S.C. — Summer officially arrives Thursday, June 20, but but we've already seen high temperatures and relative humidity that makes you think twice about going outside. With the 7-day forecast showing temperatures staying at or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, people in the Midlands are in need of some relief -- especially seniors and lower income families.
To help cool things off, local law enforcement agencies have versions of "beat the heat" programs that offer free box fans to qualifying individuals. Here are some of the programs available:
City of Columbia: Fan the Heat
Columbia Police Department (CPD) collects fans, window air units and financial contributions to help those in need through the Fan the Heat program. To be eligible for the program, persons must be 55 years old or older and must provide their name, address and phone number when requesting a fan. Exceptions to the age requirement are individuals with respiratory problems or a major illness who can supply a doctor's statement, and families with young children.
To ask for a fan, call CPD's Crime Prevention Unit at (803) 545-3555 or Telephone Response Unit at (803) 545-3500.
To donate box fans and window units, or to make a monetary donation, drop off items at the following locations:
- CPD Main Headquarters, 1 Justice Square, Columbia, 29201
- Metro Region, 1800 Main St., Columbia, 29201
- North Region, 3905 Ensor Ave., Columbia, 29203
- Southeast Region, 2132 Devine St. Columbia or 446 Spears Creek Church Rd., Elgin
- West Region, 690 Club Rd., Columbia, 29212
Checks should be made payable to Columbia Police Foundation, include "Fan the Heat program" on the memo line.
Richland County Sheriff's Department: Project H.O.P.E.
Helping Our Precious Elderly, or H.O.P.E. is Richland County Sheriff's Department's (RCSD) program that services seniors in the county that may not have friends or family to rely on.
RCSD works closely with the Council on Aging, SC Department of Social Services, nursing homes, churches, and community groups to help identify seniors in need and supply them with fans, finding rides and conducting welfare checks.
Reach out to Project H.O.P.E. by calling (803) 576-3183
Lexington Police Department: Operation: Cool Down
Box fans are given away to residents who come by the Lexington Police Department (LPD) at 111 Maiden Lane during business hours, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you have transportation issues, Town of Lexington residents can call the LPD Community Action Team (CAT) at (803) 358-1504 and a CAT officer may be able to deliver a box fan to the resident's home.
Box fan donations can be made through the Lexington Police Department Foundation, using in-kind donation forms, which include a tax identification number for tax deduction purposes.
Newberry County Sheriff's Office
Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster says the agency is supplying box fans and AC window units to folks in need. To request assistance -- or to donate fans, AC units or money -- Sheriff Foster says Newberry County residents should call (803) 321-2211 or come by the Sheriff's Office at 550 Wilson Rd, Newberry.
