Needy Receive Free Air Conditioners

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The program cranked up a little earlier this summer because of the intense heat wave and the rising number of heat-related deaths.

While the community services agency admits to being understaffed, they are relying heavily on volunteers to help deliver units to people who need it most.

Vera Bailey says she learned a valuable lesson last week, ask and you shall receive.

"I told them it was hot up in there, and I need me an air conditioner would they give me one, and they told me they would," says 68 year old Bailey.

It was a simple phone call that helped get her wish granted, in less than a week.

"We want to know, are you over 60 years old, or is anyone in the house over 60 years old, is there anyone in the home who is disabled or are you disabled, do you have young children, those are the 3 criteria we use," says Dottie Jones with Shelby County Community Services Agency.

The heat hotline, 545-HEAT, is taking calls all summer long. So far, 500 requests have been made. The warehouse has 200 units on standby, and there is money to purchase more. The program started during the heat wave of 2007.

"Governor Bredesen said fans are not enough, I know we have programs that give away fans, but fans are not enough, people are in danger, so that was when the department of human services created a special fund," says Jones.

Thursday was the first day volunteers were able to pound the pavement to get a/c units installed in the homes of the needy families.

After removing an old, non-working unit from Vera Bailey's window, volunteer employees from the Health Department got her new unit installed, and running, in a matter of minutes.

Bailey says "it feels like 100 in my room, but now its really cooled off in there."

She says her prayers were answered.

"Now, thank the lord, I can get me a good night's sleep and I won't be hot!"

To see if you qualify for the program, you need to call 545-HEAT. That's the Shelby County heat hotline.

Remember, you must be older than 60, have a disability, or have young children living in the home with no working air.