Newton Citizen

COVINGTON - It's hot out there already, and summer hasn't even officially started. But once again, FaithWorks, a local nonprofit organization, is doing its part to make sure Newton County residents can keep cool.

The organization is holding its third fan drive, soliciting donations of fans from churches and the community to distribute to people who might otherwise have to suffer through the sweltering summer.

"Originally, when we started a couple of years ago, we thought we would be giving fans to people to help circulate the air conditioning and reduce power bills they had incurred," said Doug Bolton, the fan drive organizer. "We found out 98 percent of the people we were giving fans to didn't have air conditioning at all. There was a great need for those fans."

Last year, FaithWorks gave away more than 400 fans and volunteers are hoping to collect 500 this year, Bolton said.

Collections are just getting under way, so there are not yet any fans to distribute to the community.

Donations can be made to FaithWorks' 32 member churches, which will have announcements in bulletins and newsletters in the coming weeks, or directly to the FaithWorks office at 7129 Turner Lake Circle. Donations will be accepted from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Bolton recommended 20-inch box fans, which he said are "cheap and easy to store."

For more information, contact FaithWorks at 770-784-1884, or e-mail dougbolton@yahoo.com.

Crystal Tatum can be reached at crystal.tatum@newtoncitizen.com.