Jesus C. Mejia brings up a portable air conditioning unit from the basement of the First United Methodist Church to be delivered in Medford Tuesday.

An agency that serves agricultural workers will step up this summer to provide portable air conditioners for seniors and disabled individuals who don’t have another way to keep cool.

NOWIA (Natives of One Wind Indigenous Alliance) Unete, Center for Farm Worker Advocacy, will partner for a third year with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to distribute free portable air conditioners to prevent medical emergencies during the ongoing heat wave.

Kathy Keesee, program coordinator with NOWIA Unete, said her agency, based in downtown Medford, began collaborating with other social service agencies during the coronavirus pandemic and volunteered during a heat wave two years ago to distribute portable A/C units.

“We were part of a program that had been helping people through COVID and we were in a big heat dome. People were dying in their apartments. It was really sad,” Keesee said Monday.

“(The state Department of Emergency Management) asked if anybody is interested in delivering these air conditioning units and we said, ‘Oh, yeah. We’ll do it.’”

To be eligible for a free portable air conditioner, individuals must live in Jackson County, be at least 65, or disabled with a medical condition exacerbated by heat, and not be connected to a coordinated care organization (an organization that manages Oregon Health Plan coverage).

While her agency’s primary focus is outreach and advocacy for agricultural workers, Keesee said helping to deliver the portable air conditioners could make the difference between life and death for some people.

The program to provide free A/C units extends to eligible individuals without an air conditioner or relying on a faulty or broken unit. One program participant was an elderly blind man whose air conditioner wasn’t working properly and was dripping on his floor, causing the wood to rot.

“It was just really heartbreaking. … Most of our staff are from Mexico and a lot of them said they never realized that level of poverty existed in the United States,” Keesee said.

“We feel like it’s important that the community and these seniors are served. Even though it’s not our traditional community we serve, we know these people will die in their homes if not for what we’re doing here.”

Keesee said 144 units are available for distribution this year. Unete volunteers and staff will deliver and install the units if needed.

“We did 96 (air conditioners) last year before we ran out. We actually had to turn a lot of seniors away,” she said.

To extend the program, Keesee said donations of new or newer — good, working — air conditioners will be accepted at Unete’s downtown office, located in the basement of the United Methodist Church, 607 W. Main St. The donated units will be distributed after the units provided by the state agency have been given out.

Donations of fans will also be accepted for distribution to individuals who don’t qualify for a free portable air conditioner.

Keese said she’s hopeful those most in need, especially with recent record-breaking temperatures, will hear about the program.

“We’ve had cases where I really believe we are saving people’s lives,” she said.

“We’ve taken these air conditioners to people who lived in really remote areas, in RVs where it was hotter inside their house than it was outside. … One man, when they finally plugged the A/C unit in, he took off his shirt and held his hands up in the air, he was so grateful to feel the cool air.”

Keese added, “They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes a whole village to support our seniors.”

To receive an A/C unit, call Unete at 541-245-1625. They will need the senior’s name, date of birth, Medicare ID number and physical address for screening purposes, as well as their household size and monthly income. The senior must also live in the home where the unit will be delivered.

To apply for an air conditioner or other assistance directly through the state, visit the state air conditioner program website.

For more about Unete, visit uneteoregon.org.