DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF)- The Salvation Army and Reliant Energy have opened 13 cooling stations across North Texas to help the community combat high heat exposure.
Hundreds of cars looped around the Salvation Army’s Pleasant Grove Community Center in Dallas, one of the cooling sation locations, to pick up portable fans, water, PPE and even boxes of food.
“Unfortunately, the health and economic crises have been especially devastating for our vulnerable neighbors,” said Major Todd Hawks, Area Commander for The Salvation Army of North Texas. “The burdens for those experiencing poverty and homelessness have been immensely magnified by the pandemic, and we’re serving new individuals and families who’ve never needed assistance before.”
Dallas County Commissioner Teresa Daniel said they are able to interact with the community and address needs as high temperatures and unemployment continue to rise across the region. “There’s a lot of people who need the help but there’s a lot of commitment too, the Dallas Police Department that is here and the partners working together to make a difference,” she said.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, The Salvation Army of North Texas has fed 10,000 people each week, housed 1,300 people per night, and served those facing economic hardship. Unfortunately, need in North Texas is only expected to grow.
“As temperatures rise, heat-related illness becomes a real threat in our community, especially for our seniors and vulnerable residents who are also navigating hardship from the pandemic,” said Elizabeth Killinger, President of Reliant. “As part of our annual Beat the Heat program, Reliant is joining with The Salvation Army to provide safe spaces for our fellow Texans to combat the extreme heat. No matter what summer has in store, Reliant will be here to support our neighbors and the communities where we live and work.”
The following service locations are currently providing heat relief to the public:
- Arlington: 712 W. Abram St.
- Dallas: 5302 Harry Hines Blvd
- Denton: 1508 E. McKinney Street
- Fort Worth: 1855 E. Lancaster Avenue and 3023 NW 24th St.
- Garland: 451 W. Avenue D
- Irving: 250 E. Grauwyler Rd.
- Lewisville: 206 W. Main Street
- McKinney: 600 Wilson Creek Parkway
- Oak Cliff: 1617 W. Jefferson Boulevard
- Plano: 3528 E. 14th Street
- Pleasant Grove: 8341 Elam Rd.
- Waxahachie: 620 Farley Street
Some locations will have outdoor cooling stations, while others are providing supplies such as boxed fans and bottled water as part of the drive-through grocery service. The Salvation Army of North Texas will also mobilize emergency disaster feeding units (canteens) across the region to meet need in certain communities.
To ensure the well-being of all staff and visitors, each cooling station location is taking extra sanitizing measures and enforcing the use of masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and social distancing. Areas will be sanitized and wiped down frequently and between uses.
