If you are a senior citizen (over the age of 60) or have a serious medical condition, you may be eligible to receive a free fan or air conditioner from a non-profit organization in Mount Vernon or Knox County, Ohio. There have been a number of local agencies that have been trying to help at risk residents in Ohio to deal with the heat and humidity that can occur.
The organization to contact first is The Station Break, but there are other agencies that can help as well. If you are a senior citizen (60 years of age or older), you may be eligible for assistance from the government with things like fans and air conditioners. The non-profit is funded by donations and always receives more items. The donations go to the people who need them. The city is giving away free fans and air conditioners to those who are most in need and at risk.
Most of the items available are air conditioners designed for one room or window units. These are not central home cooling systems. The units are not big enough to cool an entire house. In some cases, you may need to provide evidence that you are experiencing difficulty. A doctor’s note is required to get an air conditioner. Many doctors can provide notes to elderly patients or those with medical conditions upon request. A fan is not necessary to receive a note from The Station Break in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
There are also extra qualifications that can be obtained. If a family already has an air conditioner, they are not eligible to receive another one. You will not be given multiple fans or AC units.
The Station Break can be contacted by phone at 397-3841. If you are a senior or at risk and need a fan or air conditioner, you can stop by. If they don’t have a fan or air conditioner for you, they might have other ideas or referrals. A representative from Station Break will call you to set up an appointment once a doctor’s statement has been obtained and eligibility has been determined. The non-profit organization will deliver and install an air conditioner to your home. Working with deliveries and installations of units is not difficult.
While there is a limited amount of money and donations, there are usually items available for seniors who need to stay cool during the summer.
The Mount Vernon Fire Department and Interchurch Social Services have been working together for many years to provide free fans and/or air conditioners to local residents. The fire department is the leading organization that collects donations, fans and other items from the community and then delivers these items to Interchurch and The Station Break. Anyone can sign up for a free fan during the summer, but priority is given to those with small children, those over 60, and those with a health problem or medical condition.
Once fans arrive at the designated locations, phone calls are made to those on the various waiting lists in order to accommodate them. The fans and air conditioners can be delivered to your residence. Although we don’t know how severe the summer heat will be in Knox County, various agencies are still working hard to help those in need.