Northeast News
June 29, 2011

With soaring temperatures, Bishop Sullivan Center is working to keep area residents cool.

Now in its 12th year, Bishop Sullivan’s Project ElderCool provides air conditioners to elderly residents in need.

The program began in 2000 in response to 21 heat related deaths in Kansas City during the prior summer.

“Most of the elderly for whom we give air conditioners live alone, and for one reason or another have no family around to help,” said Tom Turner, executive director of Bishop Sullivan Center. “We believe this is literally a life-saving program.”

With the help of donations from the public, Project ElderCool provides and installs window air conditioners for the elderly and those on disability due to respiratory illness throughout the metro area, including north of the river and on the Kansas side. Bishop Sullivan Center also uses donations to put money into every recipient’s electrical account to assist with the cost of running the unit, and provides miscellaneous assistance for the elderly.

“After so many years, it’s hard to believe that there are elderly in our community that are still without air-conditioning, but every summer we learn that there are many out there suffering in the heat,” Project ElderCool Coordinator Kim Clough said.

To qualify for the program, you must be 65 years of age or older and have no air conditioner in the home; meet poverty guidelines; or be on disability due to respiratory problems.

To donate to the program, visit www.bishopsullivan.org. A donation of $100 can purchase an air conditioner and a donation of $50 can be used for a recipient’s utility account. For a fourth year, corporate sponsor A.B. May will give a 100 percent match to the first $10,000 in online donations.

Monetary donations can also be sent to Bishop Sullivan Center, 6435 Truman Road, Kansas City, MO 64126

Requests for air conditioners can be made by calling Kim Clough at Bishop Sullivan Center, (816) 231-0984.