A cool charity in stifling heat helps elderly

Joseph Pence, above, a member of the Oceanfront Jaycees, removes a nonfunctioning air conditioner from Geraldine Bryant’s Chesapeake home Tuesday. (MICHAEL KESTNER | THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT)

By Jaedda Armstrong
The Virginian-Pilot

VIRGINIA BEACH

AFTER PUTTING his father in a nursing home last summer, Patrick Byrd began to hear a lot about the deaths of elderly people due to excessive heat.

It made him want to help low-income elderly people who could not afford to keep cool.

The member of the Oceanfront Jaycees, a Virginia Beach volunteer organization that develops community service projects, created Project Elder Cool. It provides air conditioners free of charge for the elderly and disabled. He said the program helped about 35 people last summer.

The Jaycees are working with Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia to find those eligible in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Chesapeake - seniors over age 60 and disabled people over age 50.

"When we call someone and let them know they are on the list to be assisted, they are always surprised and some of them gather us in a prayer circle," Byrd said. "It's like they are getting a new car."

Now, Geraldine Bryant doesn't need the little white fan sitting on the cabinet in her Chesapeake home. She has an air-conditioning unit in her bedroom, where she hasn't slept in weeks because it felt like a sauna.

"After paying all the bills, I had $1 left. I couldn't afford to buy another unit after my old one broke," said the 70-year-old, who has diabetes. "I appreciate it. I can go in my big room and stay in there all day."

Cathy Spriggs, director of long-term care at Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia, said her list of hopeful recipients is growing, and they need more people to donate air conditioners.

"It's great because we serve people who don't qualify for cooling assistance from the state," she said.

"It's hot out, and they need our help."