James Percy installing an air conditioner in a neighbor's Muskegon Heights home.
MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WZZM) - Health officials recommend the elderly are checked on often in extreme heat -- especially if they're inside homes without air conditioning.
That's exactly what Kim Martinez did. Her neighbor Betty Bahr was using one small fan to find relief from the heat inside her Highland Street home.
Bahr says the temperature inside was becoming unbearable and it was even hotter outside.
"It usually does not bother me, but this has been something," she said.
Knowing her neighbor's situation, Martinez called to several stores in the Muskegon area searching for an affordable A.C. unit for Bahr's window. She found a store with one unit in stock, rushed over, and made the purchase. Then Martinez knocked at the door to deliver the surprise.
"I said, 'I got you and air conditioner!'" said Martinez. "She said, 'Bless you.' She was happy."
The window unit still had to be installed. Another neighbor, James Percy, helped with that. He had the afternoon off because the foundry where he works sent employees home because of the heat.
Instead of relaxing in the shade Percy spent an hour cutting boards, getting the air conditioner set in place, and sealing gaps around the unit with weatherstripping.
"We got it, we got it," said Percy. "Now I'm going to go jump in a pool."
Bahr says she has great neighbors. They help her with yard work, and often check on her to make sure she's doing fine.
Reported by Jon Mills in Muskegon Heights