KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -
Record heat has already been blamed for five deaths in the metro, and it looks like it's only going to get worse. But one area group is trying to help out by installing free air conditioners.
Inside 81-year-old Lucy Wilson's home, the temperature climbs past 95 degrees in places. A fan was the only thing cooling her living room on extremely hot days.
"I have to wipe my face and everything when it gets real hot," Wilson said.
But on Tuesday, there was help from volunteers from the Bishop Sullivan Center. The team of volunteers installed 10 free air conditioning units to elderly Kansas Citians that need them.
"We can feel the pain of what they are going through when we enter the houses and sweat starts rolling off your face. This is what these people go through for a long time before somebody calls us," volunteer David Chunn said.
And thanks to donations, like a $9,000 check from Home State Health, it keeps the air conditioning blowing, helping to buy more air conditioning units and pay for some of the electric bills.
"It really makes it hard to eat and sleep in the heat, so we try to make one room of coolness for them," said Kim Clough with the Bishop Sullivan Center.
Along with their donation, Home State Health also donated for than 4,000 bottles of water to the 10 Kansas City area cooling centers.
"This is a dangerous time, we want to draw attention to that, check on your neighbors," said Adella Jones with Home State Health.
As for Wilson, there are no words to explain what a cool breeze can do.
"It feels good, thank you all a lot," she said.
If anyone would like to know more about the Bishop Sullivan's ElderCool program, click here.
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