ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
Summer in Southwest Kansas typically sees highs staying above 90 degrees for many days in a row, and this leaves many locals looking for ways to beat the heat.
Helping in this pursuit, for the past 13 years, Westlake Ace Hardware stores nationwide have hosted an annual fan drive in partnership with the Salvation Army.
To date, more than 70,000 box fans have been distributed to seniors, low-income families and others in need across the communities Westlake serves.
From mid-May through mid-June, customers were invited to round up their purchases at the register to support the drive, and Westlake then used 100 percent of those donations to purchase box fans at cost and distribute them through local Salvation Army chapters.
The company likewise contributed additional fans to increase local impact, and this year alone, donations totaled $93,000, helping people stay safe and cool during the hottest weeks of summer.
In total since 2012, the fan drive has now officially surpassed $1 million in donations, and thanks to the generosity of customers and the support of 157 participating stores, thousands of people facing extreme summer heat will once again receive a box fan, giving them comfort and safety.
The local Salvation Army was the recipient of 40 of those fans, and Seward County United Way Director Patricia Fierro said she is more than happy about those results.
“We have given some to our partner agencies that do house calls like the senior center,” she said. “They’re able to see the needs of those families, and they’ve been able to actually take some of those to those families. It’s really nice to be able to give it to those families.”
Fierro said the fans will help significantly in the Liberal community.
“I’m glad we haven’t had a scorching hot summer like we have in years past, but still, it’s very handy to have one in case we do get a little more extreme weather,” she said.
To be able to provide 40 fans, Fierro said, speaks volumes about the community’s generosity.
“The fact they were able to give those donations to help our families in need is really greatly appreciated,” she said. “Not everyone has that advantage of being able to have air conditioning.”
Joe Jeffries, president and CEO of Ace Retail Holdings, Westlake’s parent company, said crossing the $1 million threshold also speaks volumes about the power of community.
“This program started with a simple idea – to help our neighbors stay cool,” he said. “Our customers’ generosity and our associates’ passion have turned pocket change into life-changing donations for more than 70,000 households. The fan drive is one of several community-drive efforts Westlake Ace Hardware supports each year, reflecting the company’s commitment to being more than just a hardware store. We are a neighbor you can count on.”
Fan distribution has already begun, and Fierro had some of the fans at the recent Liberal’s Night Out event in Light Park. She said those needing a fan can call the SCUW office at 620-624-5400.
“We can give it to them the following day I’m in the office,” she said.
Aug. 1, 2 and 3, SCUW has another giving opportunity for community members with its annual Stuff the Bus school supply drive. Buses are scheduled to be parked at Liberal’s Dillons, Walmart and El Rancho Supermercado stores, and Fierro is looking to help some young people get a good start to the upcoming school year.
“I’m hoping to get a good return on those school supplies and backpacks for those kids and getting them distributed to those families,” she said.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Look for more details on the Stuff the Bus drive in a future edition of the Leader & Times.
