Diocesan social service agency helps elderly manage summer heat

Published: 2004-06-11

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (CNS) -- Five years and 1,659 air conditioners later, the Bishop Sullivan Center's Project ElderCool continues its mission to prevent summertime heat-related deaths in Kansas City. "I know it has had an impact," said Colleen Raviell, who directs the program in northeast Kansas City. The program delivers and installs a free window-mounted air conditioner to the homes of qualified elderly clients and deposits $50 to their utility accounts to encourage them to use their new air conditioners. In order to qualify for a unit, clients must be elderly or disabled by a respiratory problem and must meet income guidelines that indicate they are unable to afford the cost of an air conditioner, Raviell said. The program normally installs about 400 a year. This year, Raviell said, Project ElderCool has ordered 450 units. "We'll keep installing them as long as the weather mandates," she said.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .