DOVER, Pa. — Dozens of cooling centers are now open in Central Pennsylvania, as an extended heat wave will see temperatures in the 90s every day this week.
New Hope Ministries is among the outreach groups opening its facilities as cooling centers. The group's nine centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday to welcome in those who can't beat the heat on their own.
"We want to be a welcoming place where people can just come out of the heat and just be with us," said Victoria Ernest, the manager at New Hope Ministries' Center in Dover. "Whether they're working outside, or, we do have many unhoused families, I'm just grateful that we can offer a safe space that's nice and cool."
Air conditioning units remain a need for many in communities across the area. Ernest says there is a list of people who are looking for a unit, and that donations of any extra units are welcome.
"In their own home, they're sitting in 85 degrees all the time, even with the windows open," Ernest said. "We do have several folks that come in, actually, every day, that just don't have AC units in their home. If we do receive any air conditioning donations, we can provide them to those families."
In Dauphin County, a limited number of units are available for senior citizens through the county's Agency on Aging. Seniors who are at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Line can call 717-780-6131 to inquire about their eligibility.
A full list of local cooling centers in the area can be found here.