The Anza Community Hall board of directors has opened the doors of the Hall as a cooling center for residents feeling the heat as temperatures soar this summer.
When heatwave conditions result in triple digit temps in the Anza Valley, Hall volunteers turn on the air conditioning and open the cool building to the public. This enables residents that may not have AC in their homes to experience some relief from the oppressive temperatures during the hottest part of the day.
The Hall has been open from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on particularly warm days, offering free Wi-Fi, cold water, board games and electronic device charging.
Cool down centers in Riverside County such as this are typically active as needed from June 15 through Oct. 15, with warm centers active from Dec. 1 through March 31.
“I’m so happy that we’re able to offer the cooling center back at the Community Hall,” said Hall director Pebbles Bartlett-Lewis.
Weather forecasters may issue heat-related weather warnings. A Heat Advisory means that temperatures may reach 100-105 degrees in the next 72 hours. An Excessive Heat Warning indicates heat index values in the 105 110 degree range within the warning region.
Temperatures in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit are not only uncomfortable, they can be dangerous, especially for the very young or the elderly.
Heat-related injuries can be the result of too much sun and an overheating body, causing illness and even death. Sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke are all very real possibilities when heat waves strike.
Residents that lack air conditioning in their homes are now able to take advantage of the Anza Community Hall cooling center.
The Anza Community Hall succeeds with the support of the community. Hall board meetings are open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend.
Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Anza Community Building, Inc., or to discover upcoming events can call Pebbles Bartlett-Lewis at (951)760-9244, email ACHAGeneral@gmail.com, visit the Hall’s website at https://anzacommunitybuilding.org/ or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/337754646415866.
The Anza Community Building, Inc. is located at 56630 CA-371 in Anza.
For more information regarding Cool Down Centers, please visit http://www.capriverside.org/program/disasterpreparedness.
Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia.com.
