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61 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 12, 2004 Intense heat drives seniors need for fans By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune It was more than just bad luck when Lucie Scioli’s air conditioning went out in the midst of a July heat wave. Temperatures that topped 102 degrees posed a real danger to the 77-year-old Medford woman, whose multiple health problems often make it difficult to breathe. Finding relief was a challenge until Scioli received a free fan through the Salvation Army’s annual drive to help low-income folks beat the heat. "It really was a lifesaver," said Scioli. "I really needed it. I was dying. My house is so hot." Scioli’s children were able to come up with the money to fix her air conditioning, but other participants in the Salvation Army program aren’t so lucky. Advertisement Unfortunately, donations of fans are way down this year, said Carrie Hanson, development director for the nonprofit agency. Last year, the drive distributed about 190 fans, which included a donation of 90 breeze-makers from the Moss Adams accounting firm in Medford. "We are in desperate need of fans," she said. "Our goal was 100, but so far we’ve only got 39 fans." That means that many of the four to five people who request help each day are turned away without relief, said Bill Yeager, the agency’s director of social services. "We’ve had a lot of calls that are unmet because we simply don’t have enough fans," said Yeager. "We get a lot of elderly, especially people with health problems." Fans aren’t very expensive, only about $15 to $30 at discount stores. "But if you don’t have it, it might as well be $500," Yeager said. The Salvation Army is welcoming donations of new or good-quality used fans through the end of this month. Donors can drop off fans at the following thrift store locations in Southern Oregon: 922 N. Central Ave., Medford. 4249 S. Pacific Highway, Suite E, Phoenix. 2400 Antelope Road, White City. For more information, call the Salvation Army at 773-6965. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities