Where We Stand: Helping your community can be a breeze
Though Tuesday's rain and overcast skies provided a bit of welcome relief to recent searing and soaring temperatures, it's still hot. Very hot. This week's temperatures have thankfully dipped into the low 90s, which has felt comparatively like a cool breeze.
But you can bet we have many sweltering days ahead of us. After all, we haven't even made it to August yet. And many citizens in Hope Mills and Gray's Creek and surrounding areas are finding it difficult to find so much as a tepid breeze these days.
"We are one of the places that has fans,'' said Rusty Long of Fayetteville Urban Ministry. "We had a lot of them about a month ago. Not many are left now.''
That is why, if you have a box fan you can donate - or if you would be willing to purchase a new one to donate - there are several places that would certainly welcome such a donation.
The Department of Social Services is accepting donations of new box fans from civic organizations, churches, businesses and individuals in the community willing to help.
Fans may be dropped off at the DSS building, at 1225 Ramsey St., between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Donated fans will be distributed to those who cannot otherwise afford to purchase one, and to those who have a family member in the home younger than 2, older than 60 or with a heat-sensitive medical condition.
Contact the Adult Services Department at 677-2388 for more information about making a fan donation.
You can also give your fans to the Fayetteville Urban Ministry at 701 Whitfield St., which in turn would give them to needy people in the area. For more information, call 483-5944.
You can also drop your fans off at the Cumberland County Coordinating Council on Older Adults at 339 Devers St. weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The council's phone number is 484-0111.