photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

Westlake Ace Hardware employees load 105 box fans into a van at 601 Kasold Drive in Lawrence Tuesday afternoon. Customers at the store raised over $1,600 to purchase the fans for families in need.

Donations from Lawrence residents to local hardware stores helped raise money to buy over 100 box fans to help families in need stay cool during the summer heat.

The Westlake Ace Hardware stores and The Salvation Army of Douglas County announced Tuesday the annual “Fan Drive” fundraiser had brought in $1,660 — enough to buy 105 fans for Lawrence families in need. The funds were raised at both Westlake Ace locations in Lawrence — the 601 Kasold Drive location and the 711 W. 23rd St. location — where customers were asked if they wanted to “round up” their purchase to donate, with the extra change going to support the drive.

Last year’s fundraiser brought in 73 box fans, and Emma Perez, the director of community engagement for the Salvation Army, said she was excited to see that the group was able to give to more people in need.

“We want to thank the Lawrence community for stepping up as always,” Perez said.

Employees with the two organizations helped load the two pallets of fans into a van for distribution, and all of the donations will go directly to local families. Perez said The Salvation Army has already heard from people reaching out about when the fans will be ready to distribute, so this was great timing especially considering the hot weather currently impacting the region.

The National Weather Service of Topeka placed Douglas County under an extreme heat warning until Friday, July 3, at 9 p.m., and much of the region is facing “dangerously hot conditions” including heat indexes of up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to the American Red Cross, extreme heat is a leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S., and older adults, pregnant women, babies and young children are especially at risk for suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Perez said many of the fans are going straight to families and elderly people in the community who are some of the most vulnerable to heat, and each fan supports “much more than just one person.”