Warming up the holiday season
Program helps senior citizens and disabled adults
The heaters are available for people 60 years of age or older, or adults 18 and older with a disability, according to Jennifer Brown, marketing assistant.
Those who are interested are asked to fill out a short application before receiving their choice of either a heater or air conditioning unit.
Those who are eligible can then pick up the heater from Elderbridge for free.
The project was made possible through a donation by 100 Women Who Care, Brown said.
The group donated $10,000 for Elderbridge to help the community in some way.
“I think it’s important that so many people got us to this point,” Brown said. “The 100 Women Who Care group — that’s probably one of the most amazing things Fort Dodge has. If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be doing this project.”
Brown said after talking about it with Elderbridge staff, it was decided to donate heaters.
The idea came from the Elderbridge board president, Steve Ehrhardt, Brown said.
“He was in one day and we were talking to him about how excited we were that we were the recipient of this money,” Brown said. “He (Ehrhardt) said it seems like we always have people who need heaters in the winter.”
“We thought with these infrared heaters that it would do some good and help people in some way,” Brown said. “Either cutting down on their electric bill or providing some heat in part of their house where the heat doesn’t work very well in.”
Brown said Elderbridge has given away a couple of heaters so far, but have plenty more to give.
“We have a lot on hand to give away, so we are hoping we can drum up some people to come in and get one,” Brown said.
Elderbridge will work with people who are disabled to make sure they get a heater if they want one.
“We will make arrangements with people if they can e-mail an application or have someone drop it off,” Brown said. “We will make it work. We will make sure they get a heater.”
Brown said it’s a good feeling to help out around the holidays.
“It really makes us feel good especially around Christmas to maybe alleviate a little bit of stress from someone’s life,” she said. “Hopefully this will help them.”
For additional information or to request an application stop in at Elderbridge Agency on Aging, 308 Central Ave., or call 515-955-5244.