Spring wasn't just warm. It was hot. And summer this year has been hot, too.
To help combat the heat, Westlake Ace Hardware and The Salvation Army of Jefferson City have been collecting and distributing fans.
Each year, the partners team up to cool off area people in need. The hardware store, at 2305 Missouri Blvd., accepts donations and uses its buying power to purchase 22-inch box fans for about $14 each.
This year, the business' customers donated $1,225 - enough for 87 fans. A late donation bumped the fan drive up to 94, the store's General Manager Randy Miller said.
It was a record for the store, he added.
Those fans were presented Thursday morning to The Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army had already distributed about 50 fans this year. The fans already distributed remained available from last year, Salvation Army Lt. Rachel White said.
Most of the fans received Thursday will be placed in storage at The Salvation Army, White said. Many were to be kept at the food pantry, where folks who need them might pick them up.
The organization offers one fan per household. People wishing to obtain a fan should take a photo ID to The Salvation Army Center of Hope food shelter at 927 Jefferson St. They will need Social Security cards, something demonstrating their current address and proof of income for the entire family (which might be SNAP benefits documents), White said.
For more information, people should call The Salvation Army at 573-635-1975.