ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com)—
St. Louis recorded its hottest day of 2009 Thursday, and more high temperatures are forecast for Friday. The third straight 90 degree day Friday will constitute an official heat wave for the area.Many spent the day concerned about others in need Thursday. The homeless were on the mind of some Vatterott College students who brought supplies to some who had no place to go.
Honing in on the bigger picture, St. Louis City has put its emergency plan into place because of the excessive heat. More than 3 dozen cooling shelters are open throughout the city.
Thursday, health department officials put out a warning strongly urging people without air conditioning in their homes to go to one of the shelters or someplace else cool.
Meanwhile, volunteers in East St. Louis were out Thursday helping the needy stay cool. The Metro East Weather Crisis Task Force is doing miraculous work.
Food, water and......a cold compress. Its a recipe for survival in some poverty stricken neighborhoods in East St. Louis. The Continuum of Life Care Center in East St. Louis created this life saver almost nine years ago.
Rev. Carl Pinkston is a team leader. "When we come out they know us. They are familiar with what we do and they understand we are here to help them get through the day. "
With donated ice from the Schnuck's store, bottled water and a sandwich volulnteers hit the streets. One of the organizers of the entire project is Paulyn Snyder.
"People here are living in houses without access to electricty which means no cool water no cool air no cool anything no fans no air conditioning. "
This is the second day we 've had really hot weather and there will certainly be more. And that means more Street patrols according to Snyder.
"When the heat gets bad the teams get doubled up. We start having teams go out twice a day and up to three times a day."
The Continuum of Life Care Center and other Metro East agencies are set up to offer a safe place to cool off. Their cooling centers are officially open Staff say they have seen the number of homeless increase in this declining economy.
And the economy is making it tough on organizations that help people when the temperature turns to broil. Donations of new and slightly used air conditioners to "Cool Down St. Louis" are way down.
They won't have enough units to give out to the disabled and elderly.
"The need is greater than ever. We don't want to see any heat related deaths or illness," Rev. Earl Nance said.
Vatterot College is helping out across the area as well. The school donated $5,000 to Cool Down St. Louis. The campuses are accepting donations of new or slightly used air conditioners that they will make sure work and will be given to the poor.
Drop Off Locations: NorthPark 8580 Evans Ave, Berkeley, MO 63134 314.264.1000
Sunset Hills 12970 Maurer Industrial Dr.,
St. Louis, MO 63127 314.843.4200
O'Fallon 927 E. Terra Lane O'Fallon, MO 63366 636.978.7488
