Salvation Army Beats Summer Heat

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Salvation Army of Chattanooga is working to protect the most vulnerable from the sweltering summer heat with its annual Beat the Heat Program.

Running through the end of August, the program provides box fans to low-income families without air conditioning and delivers water to those experiencing homelessness. 

The community is urged to donate fans and bottled water to support these efforts. 

News 12 spoke with Major Douglas McClure, Area Commander for Salvation Army Chattanooga, and this is what he told us about the program:

“We’re experiencing a lot of high temperatures. We’ve had temperatures already in the triple digits and we have a high humidity here that really can really rob the body of some of the moisture that needs and so these kind of programs allow for people that may not have air-conditioning in their homes or the possibility of being have access to hydration to have the supplies they can take care of themselves.”

Cooling stations are also open Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 1:30, offering hydration, showers, and relief from the heat during the hottest part of the day.