Company donates air-conditioners to help center

WEBSTER — An air-conditioning and heating installation company donated two air-conditioning units worth about $4,000 to an area domestic abuse intervention center that was burglarized during the weekend, a company spokeswoman said.

AirCon in the Clear Lake area installed the units Tuesday at Bay Area Turning Point’s Crisis Intervention Center where thieves had stolen copper and other metal from two air-conditioning units at the building on Walnut Street in Webster.

The center is an intake facility for Turning Point’s shelter, which houses about 75 domestic abuse victims from the North County and Clear Lake area each night.

Diane Savage, Turning Point president and CEO, sent an email plea asking businesses and supporters for help to replace the units.

AirCon’s company owner Derek Stewart contacted the center about donating new units on Monday, AirCon spokeswoman Melissa Powers said.

“AirCon is our ministry to touch the lives of employees, suppliers and customers,” Stewart said in an email. “With this in mind, it would be unthinkable not to help when we can. Even in this senseless situation, I thank God for allowing me to serve.”

The center had to close Monday and Tuesday because of the heat but would reopen today, Jackie Keys, Turning Point’s events and marketing director, said.

Clients don’t sleep at the center, but receive therapy and advocacy at the office.

“There was no one here to take emergency walk-ins, so it’s really impacted the services we’re trying to provide,” Keys said. “Phone calls were transferred to the shelter, and we had to reschedule about 50 appointments.”

Several companies responded to Savage’s email.

A nearby Subway restaurant donated sandwiches for workers installing the air-conditioning units, Keys said.

The economic recession has taken its toll on charitable organizations like Turning Point, Savage said.

Donations for the last two years have been down about 40 percent, but there has been steady community support with volunteering, she said.

No arrests have been made in connection with the theft, Webster police said. Anyone with information can call the Webster Police Department at 281-332-2426.

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How To Help

Call 281-338-7600 or visit www.bayareaturningpoint.org for information on how to help Bay Area Turning Point’s Crisis Intervention Center.