Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company recently donated 1,700 electric fans to seniors and families with low income across its service area to help these residents stay safe and cool during the hot summer months.
Throughout the month of June, OG&E volunteers handed out 1,700 fans to residents in Oklahoma and Arkansas who may be at higher risk for heat-related injuries and illnesses. To ensure fans were distributed to members in the community who need them the most, the electric company partnered with local nonprofit organizations that serve these vulnerable residents.
“For many, the summer is about relaxing and having fun, but for our more vulnerable community members, it can be a dangerous time,” said Joyce Willis, president of the Garden Oaks Neighborhood Council in Oklahoma City. “We are thankful to have a partner like OG&E who truly cares about improving the quality of life for our neighbors.”
Since the program’s inception in 2006, including this year’s donations, the electric company has provided more than 19,000 fans totaling nearly $304,000 to thousands of residents in the service area.
“We want our customers to be safe and cool in the summer heat,” said Lindsay Laird, community outreach manager at OG&E. “Our fan donation program is an effective way for us to help residents in the areas we serve. We are grateful for the opportunity to give back to our customers and provide assistance during these hot months.”
This year, OG&E donated fans to the following nonprofit organizations:
· Irving Community Center of Ada, OK
· Stonewall Senior Nutrition Center of Stonewall, OK
· Northwest Family Services of Alva, OK
· Caring Community Friends of Sapulpa, OK
· Bristow Social Services of Bristow, OK
· Share Food Bank of Depew, OK
· Senior Nutrition Center of Oilton, OK
· Bryan County United Way of Durant, OK
· Our Neighbors Cupboard of Tishomingo, OK
· Ozark – Senior Center of Ozark, AR
· Crawford County Senior Citizens Center of Van Buren, AR
· Salvation Army, and LeFlore County Senior Nutrition of Fort Smith, AR
· Mulberry Seniors of Mulberry, AR
· God’s Food Bank of Guthrie, OK
· Eastern Oklahoma Development District (EODD) Area Agency on Aging, and the Salvation Army of Muskogee, OK
· Under One Roof of Eufaula, OK
· Salvation Army, and Aging Services of Cleveland County, OK
· Latino Community Development Agency, Areawide Aging Agency, the Senior Center, Community Action Agency, and the Garden Oaks Neighborhood Council of Oklahoma City, OK
· Salvation Army, Central Oklahoma Economic Development District Area Agency on Aging, Shawnee Community Center, and Shawnee Bridges of Shawnee, OK
· Love County Senior Program of Marietta, OK
· Samaritans of Pauls Valley of Pauls Valley, OK
· Salvation Army of Woodward, OK
The fan donation program is just one of the ways OG&E helps customers find ways to stay safe and comfortable during the hottest months of the year. Each summer, OG&E partners with local libraries, senior centers, churches and other locations throughout its service area to open Cool Zones, which provide heat-wary residents a place to go and cool down during the hottest times of the day. A list of Cool Zones is available at oge.com/coolzones. Customers can take more control of their energy usage and monthly bill by enrolling in an energy-saving program that best fits their needs, like SmartHours™, the Weatherization Program, the Silver Energy Program, or the Low-Income Assistance Program (LIAP), which provides a $13 per month bill credit to qualified customers.
