A grassroots program in West Point is hooking up used fans and heaters with people who need them.

City Councilwoman Anne Wallace has been reminding residents of the free heaters at recent council meetings, although this week’s temperatures in the 70s likely found the group handing out fans instead.

The program has been in place since June, said community volunteer Mike Crook, who helped get it started.

“Early this past June while paying my monthly bills at City Hall, (customer representative) Deborah Wessinger and I were bantering about how hot it was when she mentioned how she wished there was some way to collect fans for the elderly and people in need of assistance,” he said. “Just as we were talking, (Wallace) came out of a meeting and we bounced the idea off of her.”

The trio approached Fire Chief Milton Smith about forming a group to collect money to pass out fans. The

“West Point Fan Club” was created.

Wallace, Crook and other city officials put the word out through local churches to take donations and the West Point Food Closet to find needy residents. In the first two weeks, the club surpassed its $750 fundraising goal, raising about $2,500.

“These were ample funds to purchase 50 or so fans and I believe that around 40 were given out by Bettye Tyner at the food closet,” Crook said. “The contributions were so great that as the summer ended we still had funds in reserve. Ms. Wallace, chief and Rev. Farris Hardin suggested that we purchase heaters for the winter needs. Chief Smith scouted out the safest heaters available, and so far we have purchased 20 space heaters.”

Smith recommends that a competent adult be present when operating space heaters and that all flammable materials be kept at minimum of feet from all sides and the top of the heaters.

“When I last checked, there were 13 heaters left,” Crook said. “Truly needy people can get a heater either through the West Point Food Closet or at the West Point fire station.”

The group still has funds to provide more heaters and hopes to have “seed money” for the next season. Donations for fans, as well as the food closet, are accepted at West Point First United Methodist Church at 306 E. 7th St.

Jennifer Shrader may be reached at jshrader@lagrangenews.com or at (707) 884-7311, Ext. 236.