William Hetzer, Sr.
June 1, 2007
Gerald Hite, Sr.
June 8, 2007
Entergy has set out to help the Tri-parish elderly “Beat the Heat” this summer with its annual electric fan drive.
Through the Terrebonne and Lafourche parish councils on aging, Entergy is getting fans in the homes of over 60 area residents.
“When it comes to nature, the elderly community is very conservative. At times, the elderly can go all day without turning on their air conditioners. These fans help them stay cool during the day and night,” said Entergy Customer Service Manager Amy Martinez.
Since the program’s inception five years ago, more than 500 fans have been donated in the Tri-parish area, she said. Entergy customer service representatives initially get the fans to the councils, and then the devices are distributed at the agencies’ discretion.
“The elderly citizens are not aggressive. They don’t expect people to do things for them, they are grateful for whatever assistance they receive,” said Terrebonne Council on Aging Executive Director Diana Edmonson.
Edmonson has assigned five outreach-workers to identify those most in need and to distribute the fans to the elderly citizens in East Houma and the Terrebonne Parish’s bayou areas.
Because they are on fixed incomes, Edmonson said many of the region’s seniors often face their choice of paying bills or buying medication and food.
“The fans help cut the energy cost during the summer months. Every year, the elderly anticipate the annual drive hoping that they will be one of the lucky individuals to receive one of the 30 fans that are given to each area Council on Aging,” Edmonson said.
Entergy challenges its customers to contribute $1 dollar each month to help the elderly and low-income families, Martinez said. In Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, Entergy services more than 69,000 customers.
Taking time out of his schedule to haul the fans to the Terrebonne agency, Entergy senior lineman mechanic Peter Champagne said, “Just think how much money we could raise if customers marked the little box on their bill and contribute $1 every month.”
“That would indeed make a tremendous difference in the lives of the elderly,” Edmonson agreed.
According to Martinez, Entergy is especially sensitive to the needs of the community’s elderly. The electric company’s “pick-a-date” program gives the elderly an opportunity to pick the date they can pay their Entergy bill every month, she said.
Since 2001, Entergy has donated money to the council to buy Christmas presents and space heaters for the Tri-parishes’ seniors. And as part of the Helping Hands organization, Entergy employees are asked to donate money to the organizations to help elderly and low-income families in the area.
The Helping Hands program pays Entergy bills up to $300 a year for low-income families. Martinez said after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Entergy regularly used the Helping Hands program to help elderly disaster victims.
In addition, the company often supplies matching funds when other organizations lend support to the Council on Aging, she said.
Fans are expected to be delivered to the Lafourche Council on Aging sometime this month.
For more information on how to help the elderly and low-income citizens, contact Martinez at (985) 532-4023.
Photo by SOPHIA?RUFFIN * Tri-Parish?Times * Entergy senior lineman mechanic Peter Champagne taking time out of his busy schedule to delivery fans donated by the electric company to the Terrebonne Council on Aging.
