Despite the Blistering Heat, $25,000, Raised From Cards Shake Our Cans/Cool Down St. Louis Benefit; Volunteers Distributed 5,000 AmerenUE/Cool Down St. Louis Check On Your Neighbors’ Cards

St. Louis – MO: Despite the blistering St. Louis heat, about 200 volunteers, including St. Louis Firefighters, and employees from Citi, AmerenUE and area social service agencies helped collect more than $25,000 in small donations from area sports fans during the Cardinals and Phillies, three-game-weekend series.

“These are tough economic times for most,” said J. Kim Tucci, chair emeritus, of the all-volunteer, non-utility, independent energy assistance and public education charity. “Despite the challenging economy, St. Louis area residents have always displayed a good Christian-Judeo spirit of helping their less fortunate neighbors, especially fragile seniors and the disabled.”

The $25,000 fundraising announcement was made Monday evening when the temperature-index had hit 108 degrees. In addition to the fans’ donations, Hardee’s concessions at Busch Stadium gave 100% of its soft-drink and French fries proceeds to the charity. Tucci, said that the charity is STILL anticipating additional funds, within the next week or so, on-line, at www.cooldownstlouis.org or through Cool Down St. Louis c/o Post Office Box, 868, St. Louis, MO 63188.  100% of all public donations are used for servicing the needy, as an all-volunteer board underwrites all operational costs.

The volunteers also distributed more than 5,000 Cool Down Check On Your Neighbors Cooling Cards donated by AmerenUE. The cards encourage area residents to help find seniors, and disabled people and get them electric or air-conditioning assistance, as well as provide them with cooling tips. Seniors and disabled individuals, needing help should call the automated Cool Down St. Louis hotline at 314-241-7668.

The charity encourages all seniors or disabled and even low-income people to call AmerenUE, or whoever is their local utility company and attempt to work out a payment plan to avoid disconnection down the line.  Seniors and disabled people are encouraged to continue to run their cooling units, and seek financial help. Cool Down officials believe that the current funds collected will be distributed within less than one week, due to the demand.

During the month of August, new and slightly used air-conditioners can be dropped off, Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. at the Sunset Hills, O’Fallon (St. Charles) or North campuses at Vatterott College. The college will have its HVAC personnel prepare the units for distribution to Cool Down St. Louis. The units must be less than two years old, and in good working condition.