High temperatures are nothing new to Orange County during the summer months. Some people struggle to beat the heat, though, which can lead to dangerous health risks.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is once again operating a summer box-fan drive to help change this. They’re collecting and distributing fans to community members who need ways to stay cool.
Sheriff Charles Blackwood says the process is simple: “If you need a fan, get a fan. If you have a fan, give a fan.”
Blackwood started doing fan drives with his office’s community outreach division in 2016. He says it’s an easy way to make a difference for someone who doesn’t have the resources to cool down.
“Some folks just don’t have the ability to be fortunate enough to have central air or even an air conditioning [unit],” says Blackwood, “and they depend on those fans. We like to be the county that says, ‘You know what, we’ve got that covered for you.’”
The fan drive is one of many ways the sheriff’s office performs community services. The outreach division is made up of officers volunteering to help complete tasks and make county residents’ lives better. Blackwood says there’s always work to be done.
“We’ve probably built over 100 ramps for people who can’t get in and out of their homes,” he describes. “We’ve put roofs on houses; we’ve changed out bathrooms, and we’ve redone floors, kitchens and plumbing. Our volunteer services group does so much in the community that goes unnoticed, and that’s okay because we’re not doing it for accolades. We’re doing it because it needs to be done.”
Blackwood says anyone in the county can ask for a fan. The office has donated some to businesses, senior citizen homes and community centers in addition to individual households. He says citizens can also leave notes or requests for help for friends and neighbors.
“Often, people are too proud to ask for help. If you know somebody who needs help, let me know and I’ll take a fan to them. I have found that two of the hardest things to do are ask for help and accept it when it’s offered, but if you do, people will run to you. We just want to be able to help people in they’re in need.”
If you need a box fan, you can contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Office through its website or main phone number: (919) 245-2900.
Photo via the Orange County Sheriff’s Office 2016 Fan Drive
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