Air Conditioners, Light Bulbs Donated to Those in Need

Every summer, some in the community struggle to stay cool as temperatures rise. Seniors, the physically disabled and limited-income families are often affected. That’s why Ameren Missouri is once again partnering with Cool Down St. Louis and Cool Down Missouri, bi-state not-for-profit public education and resource charities, to help its most vulnerable customers beat the heat this summer. 

Ameren Missouri recently donated 600 energy efficient air conditioners and packages of LED light bulbs to Cooldownstlouis.org and Cooldownmissouri.org in St. Louis, along with another 50 air conditioners and packages of LED light bulbs to the Samaritan Center in Jefferson City.

"Ameren Missouri is proud to partner with Cooldownstlouis.org and Cooldownmissouri.org and the amazing work they do to help our region’s most vulnerable residents,” said Michael Moehn, chairman and president, Ameren Missouri. “This donation will help Ameren Missouri customers, including seniors and limited-income families with young children, across the state to stay cool and safe this summer. 

Moehn noted the company is also proud of Cool Down’s consortium of social service, EMS/Fire protection and municipal government partnerships that also embody an amazing spirit of neighbors helping neighbors stay safe and cool each summer.

"It is programs like the S.O.S. (Save our Seniors) summer campaign that effectively save lives and serve as a reminder to check on our elderly and physically disabled neighbors," said Missouri Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe. "Ameren Missouri and Cooldownstlouis.org/Cooldownmissouri.org continue to strengthen a summer safety net to help protect Missouri’s most vulnerable neighbors from the deadly heat." 

Kehoe said he is honored to be a member of the Cool Down board of directors. “We are very appreciative of Ameren’s leadership and corporate responsibility throughout its servicing area. Ameren Missouri and Cool Down is a worthy partnership that connects neighbors in need each summer," he added. 

The air conditioners are ENERGY STAR®-certified units, which means they meet high standards for energy efficiency and will cost less to operate. On average these air conditioners will cost less than a dollar a day to operate. The donation is part of Ameren Missouri’s long history of support for the mission of Cool Down. During the last 14 years, Ameren Missouri has donated approximately 5,500 air conditioning units to customers across the region. This is in addition to 1,200 units donated by consumers through the summer of 2018. However, Cool Down’s total combined efforts have resulted in more than 13,500 units donated since the program’s inception 19 years ago.

Cooldownstlouis.org, which represents the bi-state region, and Cooldownmissouri.org, which stretches as far as the Missouri Bootheel and Jefferson City and Columbia, work with a consortium of more than 34 social service and governmental agencies in coordinating efforts to make sure utility bills are paid, and brand-new energy efficient air-conditioners are distributed to those who qualify.

The public can also make secured donations online to Cooldownstlouis.org or Cooldownmissouri.org or send donations to Cool Down St. Louis, c/o UMB Bank, P.O. Box 868, St. Louis, MO 63188. All public donations go toward serving qualified needy Missouri and Illinois neighbors. In addition, UMB Bank’s tellers will accept donations at their windows.