As the temperatures rose to dangerous levels in the first week of July, a group in Watertown leapt into action delivering air conditioners to those who need them, and which had been donated by other residents.
The air conditioner redistribution is a project run by Watertown Neighbors, a mutual aid effort of the Watertown Rapid Response Network. Last year, members of the RRN — that formed to assist immigrants in town — looked for areas where the group could make a difference and fill a need in the community, said Watertown resident Allison Eck.
“We thought that basically AC units was a place where we could provide real value and fill a real need, which is the goal of mutual aid,” Eck said. “So we did a round of AC unit redistribution last summer, tried to figure out the best way of going about doing it, and how to organize ourselves. And then this summer we were prepared, because we’d done it once already. In the midst of a heat wave, we just were like, all right, let’s pounce into action.”
Window air conditioning units typically cost $150 or more, and when disposing of AC units Watertown residents must call Republic Services, 781-289-0500, to set up a time and pay to have the old air conditioner picked up.
Watertown Neighbors spread the word of the effort using some tried and true methods, said Eddy Cole, a member of Mutual Aid’s air conditioning group.
“We made flyers to hang up, inviting people to donate working air conditioners that they didn’t need anymore, and then inviting people to reach out if they needed an air conditioner,” Cole said.
The group found there is need, especially when temperatures reached the high 90s and even 100 degrees.
“This year I think so far we have collected and given away something like 30 air conditioners,” Cole said. “And we still get emails every few days from people reaching out either to donate a unit or request to receive one.”
The units are picked up, delivered, and even installed, at no cost to the people donating or receiving them, Eck said.
“Somebody emailed in asking for a unit, and I responded, ‘Do you need an installer?’ because we also have a small group of people who can help people install,” Eck said. “This person wrote back and said, ‘Well, that would be great, but is that going to cost something? Do I need to pay the installer?’ and I was like, no, no, definitely not.”
Cole delivered some of the air conditioners during the latest heatwave.
“People are grateful. There’s this sort of sweet and interesting dynamic that I have come across of people being, like, what do you mean it’s just free, or a bit of confusion at how could it be this easy,” Cole said. “It’s sweet to see people just make some connections about how neighbors helping each other out is kind of very common sense.”
Anyone can request to receive or to donate an air conditioner.
“There’s no intake process or proving that you are in need or anything like that. Anyone can reach out and request the unit, and we will bring it to them,” Cole said. “A big aspect of mutual aid is this idea of dissolving the binary between who are the givers and who are the receivers, and recognizing that everyone has something to offer, and everyone is worthy of, and in need of support in some way.”
Another effort by the Watertown Neighbors is bringing produce left over from the Watertown Farmers Market and put it into the Watertown Community Fridge behind the Watertown Free Public Library (123 Main St.).
The Watertown Neighbors got some tips from other local mutual aid groups that redistribute air conditioners, Cole said.
“There’s a group called MAMAS — Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville — that has done an AC mutual aid project for several years, and we actually talked with them about more aspects of their their mutual aid group to get some ideas and advice,” Cole said. “And there’s a very similar air conditioner distribution project in Allston-Brighton, with the mutual aid group there.”
The air conditioners must be in good working condition, Eck said.
“It’s important that people test them beforehand,” Eck said. “That’s the trust that we’re all building together to make sure that people aren’t giving away units that could cause problems.”
People can request an air conditioner or donate one by emailing WatertownNeighbors@proton.me. That email is also a good contact for people looking to join the effort.
“We always need more people to be part of the mutual aid efforts,” Eck said. “We need people to help move AC units, install them. If somebody wants to get involved, we can chat.”