Volunteers Needed

Channel 3 is reporting that 200 volunteers are needed to deliver air conditioners on Saturday. See the transcript below.

FAST FACTS:

* Today the Salvation Army began purchasing air conditioning units
with the $46,000 you helped us raise
* Some 500 AC units purchased through the "Beat the Heat" campaign will be delivered Saturday
* We still need about 200 volunteers to help make those deliveries

(Memphis 7/4/2010) Thanks to your donations, some cooling is on its way to those who need it most in the Mid-South.

Wednesday, the Salvation Army went shopping for hundreds of air conditioning units.

It wasn't your average purchase at the Walmart Supercenter in Cordova.

One by one, employees scanned 217 air conditioning window units.

Managers have been preparing for weeks to fill the tall order.

"We are just very thankful we are able to help out the community and to be able to have these AC's on hand to help out "Beat the Heat," said Terry Elion.

The air conditioners are among some 500 that will be delivered Saturday to those in need in Memphis.

When WREG and our partners began the "Beat the Heat" campaign, our goal was to raise $30,000 and buy 300 air conditioning units.

Last week we hit the streets and you handed over lots of cash allowing us to buy 200 more.

The Salvation Army says the big challenge now is finding enough A/C's to buy.

"Everybody right now is looking for AC's-- if you are looking for one you might be out of luck because the Salvation Army has just bought 500 of them," said Major Mark Woodcock.

The Salvation Army dropped off the A/C's at Shelby County's distribution center.

They will be picked up by volunteers Saturday and delivered to people who have already qualified.

Those with medical conditions, the elderly and those who are disabled are at the top of the list.

The Salvation Army is overwhelmed by the generosity of the community.

"Which by the way is the first time we've done this and it was initiated by your TV station and we are just so glad that you truly are on our side," said Woodcock.

The Salvation Army says this campaign has been so successful they would like to do it again next year.

The Salvation Army needs about 200 volunteers to help out Saturday.

Most will need to have a car and a valid driver's license.

You don't need to know how to install an air conditioner.

If you are interested contact Brian Holifield at Volunteer Mid-South at (901) 523-2425 extension 213 or at bholifield@volunteermidsouth.org .