Though I’m a Southerner born and bread, and though I’m a trip-to-the-beach-not-the-mountains kind of girl, I want – no, require – air conditioning. I grew up in Dallas, where I remember summers either being spent in a pool or moving from air conditioned home to air conditioned car to air conditioned mall/theater/etc.
I was reminded recently that not everyone is so lucky.
I am part of a group of extremely dedicated, talented and community-oriented women known as the “Flamingos.” One of our leaders was thinking of her own air conditioning bills and how during a hot summer the air conditioner “seems like it never stops.” It got her thinking about the elderly in and around our community: “Can they cope with the heat? Especially taking heart medication, etc.?”
So she began the Flamingo Fan Fund.
One modest fan costs about $25, which is less than $1 a day for a month and can give such relief. She has been taking donations for almost a month, but has just set up an account for those who don’t know her personally.
This program is one of those grass-roots efforts that may or may not take off, but I wanted to share with you that even large ideas by a small group can make a difference when everyone chips in and thinks of their community.
If you’re interested, you can send donations made out to the “Flamingo Fan Fund” to: Coastland Federal Credit Union, 1301 Clearview Parkway, Metairie, LA 70001. For more information, email FlamingoAndFriends@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/MusesFlamingos.
And, if you’d like to lend a more physical hand, this Sat., June 15, at 10 a.m., some Flamingos (you’ll be able to spot us, I promise) will be meeting in the parking lot at Elmwood Shopping Center (in front of Big Lots) to purchase the first round of fans with the money already raised.
