Free Electric Fans For Seniors And Disabled Individuals

Photo: Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Service

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, community organizations, and residents, hundreds of electric fans have been collected to provide heat relief for seniors and people with disabilities.  A “Fan Fair” giveaway and resource event is scheduled for Saturday, June 24 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Edison Center, 701 W. Ormsby Ave., Louisville, KY 40203.

Fans will be available for seniors 60 and older, as well as for individuals with documented disabilities, on a first-come, first-served basis.  Fan Fair qualifications and guidelines are as follows:

•  Person 60 years or older
• OR documentation verified by a physician of a disability
• Resident of Jefferson, Oldham, Henry, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble or Bullitt counties
• Proof of address and age
• ​ One fan per household

A Resource Fair will coincide with the fan giveaway event to provide basic health checks and information from local resources. Participating vendors include AARP, Kentuckiana Regional Planning & Development Agency (KIPDA), U of L School of Dentistry, the local Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services and several other Metro Government divisions including the Center for Health Equity and Economic Development.   Louisville pure tap® water will also be provided.

Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness and LMPD will also facilitate a ‘Take Back Event’ to properly and safely dispose of unwanted or expired prescription drugs.

Fan Fair is sponsored by KIPDA Area Agency on Aging and Independent Living and Louisville Metro Office for Aging & Disabled Citizens (OADC).  These organizations joined forces last year to implement a fan drive and for the first annual Fan Fair in response to the numerous calls they received requesting heat relief.

This year’s fan drive ended June 16 with more than 450 fans being donated, and more than $500 in monetary donations received to purchase additional fans.  Some of the many donors include:

• AARP
• CareSource
• Humana
• JenCare
• LG&E
• Lowe’s
• Senior Home Transitions
• 310 Tempering
• WLKY
• Numerous Individual Donors
• Local churches

WLKY served as the media partner providing both on-air and on-line advertising to promote the fan collection and serving as one of the donation drop-off sites.  Lowe’s provided multiple levels of support including donating more than 200 fans and allowing the purchase of additional fans at cost from the monetary donations that were collected.

“The incredible outpouring of support we’ve received again this year is evidence of the outstanding compassion that exists in the Louisville community”, stated Sarah Teeters, Coordinator for OADC, part of the Office of Resilience and Community Services. “We hope to offer Fan Fair every summer if the need and the interest continue.”

“The support that the community gave this event last year was simply amazing and showed just how much passion our city’s residents have for others,” stated Jennifer Craig, Aging and Disability Resource Specialist for KIPDA.  “This year’s contributions have once again conveyed the kindness that this wonderful city has for those in need and has once again exceeded our expectations.”

For more information about the Fan Fair event, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/resilience-and-community-services  or  www.KIPDA.org.