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Wanted: Space Heaters by the Council on Aging NWFL

Council on Aging NWFL

Northwest Florida’s Council on Aging is back this winter with its annual collection and distribution of space heaters to low-income seniors.

And for now, demand is outstripping supply.

“It was sort of an unseasonably warm Christmas, so it wasn’t really an emergency for us,” said CoA spokesman Josh Newby. “But as the temperatures are dipping down into the 30s overnight, we’ve realized that this is still a need.”

Late last year, the Council experienced record levels in both heater donations and demand for the devices. Then at Christmas, there was a shift in donations from heaters to holiday gifts.

“We gave away our very first heater of the cold weather season on October 31, and since then we’ve distributed over 350 space heaters,” Newby said. “Starting at the beginning of this year, we just ran out of heaters.”

The Council provides brand-new space heaters to individuals needing them during the colder Florida months of December, January and February. And while the giveaway is on hold for now, the requests for heaters continue.

“We’ve gotten between 20-30 calls each and every day of people requesting heaters, and we just have to tell them, ‘I’m sorry, we don’t have any; call back and we’ll help you as soon as we can.’ So that’s when we put the call out.”

And once again, there are some ground rules when it comes to donating space heaters to the Council on Aging. Rule one: no used heaters.

“We do request that people buy brand-new space heaters from any big box store,” said Newby. “I’m sure people have used heaters that they’d love to give us and we appreciate that generosity. But we can’t verify that they’re safe, and obviously, we don’t want to be giving any disabled or ill senior a fire hazard.”

Credit Dave Dunwoody, WUWF Public Media
Josh Newby, Council on Aging of NWFL.

It’s not unusual for homes with poor insulation to reach 50 degrees at night, and even lower as the outdoor temperatures plunge to or below freezing. That, says Newby, can lead to a number of physical problems.

“Your blood rushes to your vital organs in order to keep those warm; so you tend to be less mobile; it can also impede cognitive function,” said Newby. “Because, again, that blood is rushing to your heart, your kidneys, and you can start to sort of think a little bit slower than you normally would. It can also slow metabolism.”

Donations of recently-purchased space heaters can be dropped off at the Council on Aging main office, 875 Royce Street in Pensacola. And the Council’s Josh Newby says there’s another alternative.

“If they don’t want to do the shopping, [they can] just make a donation online at www.coawfla.org,” Newby says. “And specify 'weatherization' when you make that donation, and we’ll do the shopping for them. We will take them up until it’s not cold anymore.”

Residents age 60 and over who are suffering in the cold can call 432-1475 to request a space heater. They must also verify that there are heaters in stock before coming to the Council on Aging office. The heaters are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and based on need.