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Heaters, Donations Roll In; More Help Need For The Elderly
January 6, 2010
When the call went out for heaters and other donations to help the elderly stay warm during our unseasonably cold weather, the public responded in a big way. But the Council on Aging of West Florida still needs more help.
About 80 heaters, 30 blankets and $1,000 had been donated by late afternoon Tuesday.
“Thank goodness it has kind of balanced itself out between the number of heaters and the number of calls for help,” said Jeff Nall, vice president of marking and communications for the Council on Aging. “So far we have been able to help everyone that called, but we need to be proactive rather than reactive. The need is still there for more donations because the phones are still ringing. It has just been crazy.”
NorthEscambia.com, and WEAR 3 ran stories about the Council on Aging’s need for donations, and that, according to Nall, prompted the public to act.
“It also got a lot of elderly people to think they have made it before just fine, but we are talking about weather that is colder than we usually have lasting for a much longer period of time,” he said. “They might say “It’s been cold before, and I’ve made it a few days,” but it is so much different this time.”
Many times, Nall said, needy seniors will find alternative and unsafe means to get any kind of heat in their homes.
“They will sometimes try to heat the house with their oven,” he said. “I’ve seen flames coming out of an oven before. People need to know that heating with a stove or oven is unsafe.”
Heaters and blankets can be dropped off at any location of Council on Aging of West Florida, including 6025 Industrial Boulevard In Century from 8:30 a.m. until noon and 132 Mintz Lane in Cantonment from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Only new items can be accepted.
Financial donations can be sent to Council on Aging of West Florida, PO Box 17066, Pensacola, FL 32522-7066 or made online at www.coawfla.org.
Seniors in need of a heater, blanket or other assistance should call (850) 432-1475.
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