ST. LOUIS – Preparing for the heat is the main mission of Cool Down St. Louis this summer. The group is striving to keep those vulnerable safe with the help of Ameren Electric.
The two organizations partnered with one another to provide 800 window air conditioning units as well as 100 Google Nest thermostats for the most vulnerable.
“Each summer, we make it a priority to keep hundreds of our elderly and disabled neighbors safe and cool. If you have a vulnerable neighbor, please check on them,” President and Chairman of Ameren Missouri, Mark Birk, said.
This year’s air conditioning donation is the 24th anniversary of the “Save our Seniors” Cooling Summer Project.
In addition, Ameren has also donated $200,000 to help support the mission of Cool Down St. Louis.
“Those funds will go towards utility assistance for low to medium-income families or the purchase of new AC for seniors or the physically disabled area residence,” Corporate Treasurer and Chair Emeritus for Cool Down St. Louis, Rev. Earl E. Nance Jr., said.
Those volunteers prepared the donated units and thermostats for statewide distribution to a large waiting list of qualified individuals Tuesday.
“Without the community, without the support of people in this area, we won’t get through it. And I will say, since I’ve been doing this, every year we get better at it. Last year we didn’t have a heat-related death, and I hope this year we have no heat-related deaths, but it takes help,” Fire Chief Association of Greater and Safety Chair Dennis Jenkerson said. “Tell the people to keep the air conditioners on. If you need assistance, CoolDownSt.Louis.org will help.”