In response to dangerous heat waves throughout the New York region during the summer of 2026, with apparent temperatures exceeding 100°F, Catholic Charities of New York’s neighborhood centers in Harlem, Lower Manhattan, and the Bronx have distributed 1,200 fans to older adults as part of Project Cool. The effort was designed to coordinate the distribution of cost-effective protection against the heat alongside food pantry services for the most vulnerable.
“I get stuck in the summer with a very high electricity bill. That’s when I feel trapped,” shares Alex, an older adult from Washington Heights who received a fan as part of Project Cool.
“We know many of our seniors are living in housing that may not have cool air or central air. We wanted to be able to support them, especially during the extreme heat we’ve been experiencing,” says Lakisha Morris, Division Director for Food, Housing, and Stability.
Adults over 60 are especially vulnerable to heat waves, as sensory abilities that serve to warn of extreme temperatures decline with age. “Older adults have a more difficult time identifying thirst,” says Catholic Charities of New York’s Community Nutritionist Mia Lane-Small. She tells the nutrition class that she teaches at the Lieutenant Joseph P. Kennedy Center, “You need to make sure that you sip water throughout the day, because if not, you’ll forget and you’ll start to dehydrate.”
Josephine, a regular attendee of the nutrition classes, left the building with one of the new fans. “I don’t have to go buy a fan today!” she said, “I’m going to go home, make my little salad, take a shower, turn this bad boy on and enjoy.”
“Recognizing the limitations that many of the households that we serve are experiencing,” says Morris, this year we thought, let’s do something different, something unique and meaningful in addition to the core services that we typically administer throughout the year. And through generous support that we’ve received, we were able to launch this cooling project.”
With heat waves continuing to visit the region, Catholic Charities of New York remains committed to supporting our neighbors in need.
