Fan Fair Giveaway offering free electric fans to seniors and people with disabilities on June 11

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, community organizations and residents, hundreds of electric fans have been donated and collected to provide heat relief for seniors and people with disabilities. A “Fan Fair” Giveaway and Resource event is scheduled for Saturday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Edison Center, 701 W. Ormsby Ave., Louisville, KY 40203.

Ventilators will be available free of charge to people aged 60 and over, as well as people with documented physical disabilities, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fan Fair qualifications and guidelines are as follows:

• Person aged 60 or over
• Or doctor-verified documentation of a physical disability
• Resident of Jefferson, Oldham, Henry, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, or Bullitt counties
• Proof of address and age
• One fan per household

A prescription medicine and resource giveaway fair will coincide with the fan giveaway event to provide basic information on local resources. Participating providers include AARP, JenCare, Kentuckiana Regional Planning & Development Agency (KIPDA), Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS), Anthem Kentucky Medicaid & Medicare, Senior Medicare Patrol, and several other community organizations.

The Louisville Metro Police Department will also educate and collect prescription drugs to properly and safely dispose of unwanted or expired prescription drugs at home.

Fan Fair is sponsored by the KIPDA Regional Agency on Aging and Independent Living and the Louisville Metro Office for Aging and Disabled Citizens (OADC). These organizations first joined forces in 2016 to set up a fan campaign and the launch of an annual Fan Fair Giveaway event in response to the many calls they received asking for heat relief.

This year’s fan collection will end on June 9. Donations from new box fans can be made Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at any of the following addresses: KIPDA, 11520 Commonwealth Drive (Lou., KY 40299); OADC, Edison Center, 701 W. Ormsby Ave., 2^n/a Floor; and WLKY Studio, 1918 Mellwood Ave. (Lou, KY 40206). Monetary donations online or by check are also appreciated. More information can be found at louisvilleky.gov/fanfair.

To date, and thanks in part to a special allocation from RCS’s Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), over 700 fans have been raised. Among the many donors are:

• AARP Kentucky
• JenCare Main Medical Center
• Success Options
• Passport Health Plan by Molina Healthcare
• Many individual donors

WLKY serves as a media partner by providing both on-air and online advertising to promote the fan collection and serving as a donation drop-off site. Lowe’s provided support by allowing additional ventilators to be purchased at cost through the monetary donations that were collected.

“We are thrilled to be back for a 7th year of Fan Fair. The generosity of our community has been overwhelming. Community partners like JenCare, AARP, Options to Success, Passport Health Plan by Molina Healthcare and many more are all mobilized to support this special event. I look forward to engaging with citizens in need and providing much needed relief.”

“Fan Fair is going great! I am continually honored by our community and how we come together to support each other,” said Brittney Baines, Aging and Disability Resource Center Coordinator of the KIPDA regional agency on aging and independent living. It’s exciting to watch this incredible event take shape as all the pieces come together. Donations from the community continue to pour in, whether in the form of physical fans or monetary donations. We are grateful for this great community that continues to prove year after year that it is ready to help seniors and citizens living with disabilities. The Fan Fair Giveaway event come back in person is great to see. “

Organizations interested in participating in the Fan Fair event, or individuals needing more information about donating, can contact Alli Woosley with OADC at (502) 574-5092, or Brittney Baines with KIPDA (502) 266 -5571. More details can also be found at www.louisvilleky.gov/fanfair.

This project is funded, in part, through a contract with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services with funds from the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Community Services Block Grant Act.

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Tips to keep you, your family and your neighbors safe in extreme heat:

• Ask about friends or neighbors who live alone.
• Avoid direct sunlight, place blinds on windows, and use cross ventilation and fans to cool rooms.
• Never leave children, elderly people or pets unattended in a parked car under ANY circumstances, not even for a few minutes in extreme heat. Brain damage or death can occur due to the rapid rise in temperature inside a vehicle within minutes.
• Drink plenty of fluids such as water, fruit or vegetable juices, and iced tea to replace fluids lost through sweating. As a person ages, thirst decreases. Limit the consumption of alcoholic drinks or liquids containing too much salt, as this can complicate existing medical problems, such as high blood pressure.
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing. If you must go out during the hottest part of the day, wear a hat large enough to protect your face. Outside, rest frequently in a shaded area.
• Avoid overexertion and strenuous outdoor activities. Take extra precautions if you must work or spend time outdoors. If possible, reschedule strenuous activities for early morning or evening and take frequent breaks.
• Stay in an air-conditioned environment if possible. Find places in your community where you can cool off, such as libraries, malls, community centers and senior centers.
• Know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat stroke. Anyone overwhelmed by heat should be moved to a cool, shaded area. Heat stroke is an emergency, so call 9-1-1 immediately.

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