Ameren Missouri works with Samaritan Center to donate air conditioner units
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Trina James got to take home something special with her groceries Thursday -- a new air conditioner.
James was the first to apply for a unit through the Samaritan Center in Jefferson City. The stay-at-home mother says she has a condition that can cause heat-induced seizures. With the help of Ameren Missouri, the Samaritan Center is giving away 95 air conditioners just in time for highs to reach the 90s again.
This event is for any Ameren customer who in need of an air conditioner and is vulnerable to rising temperatures. This includes the elderly, pregnant women, families with young children and people with serious medical conditions.
Applications for units are open during Samaritan Center's food pantry hours: Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon and then 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings. The applications require basic information like identification, income, medical concerns and family criteria.
The program still has more units to give away, said Denise Kuensting, a project specialist at the center.
"We'll be open at 4:00 this evening and they can come in and apply then," Kuensting said. "But, definitely next week, we plan to hit it full force."
This week started with extreme heat as heat indexes across Mid-Missouri rose past the century mark. The normal high for this time of year in Columbia is 87. Temperatures could hit the mid- to upper 90s again next week.
Last year, any person who applied at Samaritan Center for an A/C unit also required a doctor's note that authorized the donation. This time around, a medical need is still required however, it's not necessary to check in with a doctor or primary care physician for the unit.
"It will help streamline the process a little bit to make it a little quicker to be able to get the unit instead of having to go through and get a letter or statement first," Kuensting said.
Ameren Missouri wanted to keep the air conditioners accessible and affordable, settling on smaller, window units.
"[Ameren] came about the program to be able to donate air conditioners to help those that are in need, low income, and struggling," Kuensting said. "The air conditioner units that they provide cost less than a dollar a day to run."
"I've been, luckily, able to get one at least every other year," said James, the stay-at-home. "So we've been supplied, and I haven't had a seizure since I've had air conditioners."
Aside from occasional air conditioners, Samaritan Center hopes to help provide food, clothes and even financial and legal help to those in need.
Ben DeFeo, the operations manager, encourages people who want to help to donate to the Samaritan Center. From monetary donations to cans and housewares, every little bit helps.
"We have very good community support in mid-Missouri, everything that we have here is donation," said DeFeo. "We don't do any sort of government funding things like that other than the USDA. So, it's all coming in through the community."
