More donations needed during heat wave

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Austin Resource Center for the Homeless is asking for summer donations. Volunteers are seeing a big demand for services in the Central Texas heat.

This summer, volunteers are seeing an increase in clients. They are serving about 500 clients a day. When it is really hot, they are opening up their air-conditioned dining room for people to stay cool while they ate.

The non-profit organization Front Steps is asking for money for hats, bandanas, sunscreen and hand-held fans.

"We want to make sure our clients have things like hats, deodorant and sunscreen, all those kind of basic necessities that we take for granted that our clients don't have access to," said Dawn Perkins, Front Steps community relations.

Meanwhile, new requests keep coming in for the "Keep Austin Cool" Summer Fan Drive. Family Eldercare is receiving 200 new requests every week. So far this summer, the non-profit organization has distributed 5,100 fans.

Family Eldercare’s "Keep Austin Cool" Summer Fan Drive is an annual relief effort helping save lives in the Austin-area for the past 19 years. Funds raised during the Fan Drive will go to purchase fans and air conditioners for individuals and families who need help to beat the summer heat and to provide other critically-needed services. Please call (512) 483-3557 for more information.

Learn more about the Fan Drive here . You can donate online at the Family Eldercare Web site.

Drop off locations are:

• Family Eldercare, 2210 Hancock Drive Austin, TX 78756
• Any Austin Fire Department location 
• Fox Services Company 4300 South Congress Avenue Austin, Texas 78745
• WellMed at Midtown 1301 W. 38th St., Ste. 402 Austin, TX 78705 (512) 459-6503
• WellMed at St. Johns 6937 N. IH-35, Ste. 120 Austin, TX 78752 (512) 465-4800
• WellMed at Ben White 1221 W. Ben White Blvd., Ste. 100 Austin, TX 78704 (512) 442-1996
• Physicians Health Choice Barton Oaks Plaza One 901 S. Mopac Expressway, Ste. 300 Austin, TX 78746 (512) 374-9056
• Home Depot Marble Falls 1307 Mormon Mill Road Marble Falls, TX 78654

For more information, visit the Front Steps Web site or call (512) 305-4174.