“Today’s high is expected to reach 97 degrees.” Most of us wouldn’t bat an eye to hear this on the morning news. This is exactly what is expected at the end of July in our neck of the woods.
Yet, to the women and their small children in the GRACE Transitional Housing apartments, it means another blistering day fighting ancient window AC units.
Nearly three-quarters of the Transitional Housing clients in these apartments have been furloughed or laid off from their jobs, so many are at home practically all day. And their air conditioners are running 24 hours a day.
Dedicated volunteer groups renovate each apartment ceiling-to-floor after a family moves out and before another one arrives. New appliances, housewares, furnishings, bedding—nearly everything is replaced, except for the air conditioners. They remain year-after-year-after-year.
Each apartment has two small window units—one in the bedroom and one in the front of the apartment. Missing knobs, broken vents, duct-taped panels, and other “fixes” are normal. This summer the “fixes” are not enough—the effectiveness of the units have dropped to near nothing.
“If I could, I would replace all 20 units,” said Mark Woolverton, GRACE Chief Development Officer. “They make noise and blow air—that is the best I can say.”
Mark said it was a little like at home when one lightbulb goes out, they all go out.
“The units were all purchased at the same time,” he said. “And all are reaching their life expectancy at the same time.” The cost for each unit is about $250.
“We just need 20 generous souls to make a gift of $250,” he said. “It would make conditions in the apartments so much better, and that would mean a lot to our Transitional Housing families.”
For more information, contact Mark Woolverton ay 817-305-4654.
