The heat during summer can really be punishing. Summer to some people is fun times in the pool or just tank-top weather. But for many people, summer in their regions is a lot less forgiving.
The summer heat proved too much for these tenants, who relied on window-mounted air-conditioners to make things bearable.
A large air-conditioner can be a lifesaver during intense heat. The tenants from Newberg, Oregon are lucky to have them on hand. But the management at the housing complex they’re renting isn’t so fond of them.
Window-mounted ACs are a fire hazard, according to the Yamhill County Housing Authority.
With how hot it gets in Oregon, this was a bad time to be asked to give up your ACs.
And they can’t keep them lest they want to be evicted. Now, what do they do?
They were tight on money, and couldn’t just give up those ACs. But the housing authority wasn’t going to wait. The tenants, two of whom are Nicki Sherman and Mary McGrew, were awfully sensitive to the heat too.
McGrew has multiple sclerosis, and Sherman has migraines and swelling. Long story short, the heat really isn’t good for them.
The rules were that window-mounted ones were a no-no. But portable ACs were fine.
Though we all know how expensive an air-conditioning unit is. Even a small one is a few hundred dollars. And the tenants couldn’t just settle for a small one with how many of them lived here.
Now, more than ever, they needed help. But not everyone’s got hundreds of dollars just sitting around to buy someone several air-conditioners.
When their situation made the local news, however, it caught someone’s attention.
A viewer of KGW, Kim Stark, saw the bad news they were facing. Kim was a compassionate soul and felt like helping.
And Kim had more than enough to spend on several portable ACs – so he did just that.
In total, the several portable ACs he bought for them amounted to $1,500. But if it meant keeping them safe and comfortable during the heat, especially with their health conditions, then it’s money well-spent.
His gesture was so kind that even Norman Chusid, who runs the hardware store the units came from, had to comment on it.
Chusid says he was “amazed” and “flabbergasted”. It’s not every day someone just spends on something like that for a stranger. Chusid found the compassionate gesture so sweet that his hardware store offered to deliver them for free to the tenants.
“It’s done amazing things. Not just cooling our house but warming our hearts.” – said one of the tenants
Kim says it was a pleasure to be able to help and loved seeing how happy it made Nicki and Mary.
He says if he had the money, he’d happily buy air-conditioners for everyone here who needs one.
There’s still disagreement between lawmakers about ACs in public housing. It’s understandable given the fire hazards posed by some, and the fact that some ACs need a hole carved out of the wall to mount.
But as tenants like Nicki and Mary show, the benefit of an AC seems like it should take priority over those things.
Intense heat can really be dangerous. At least they don’t have to worry about that themselves anymore.
Learn more about this heartwarming story in the video below!
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