DALTON, Mass. — With summer upon us and many hot days, the Board of Health has established a cooling assistance program to help vulnerable residents.

Using approximately $650 from the Board of Health fiscal year 2026 budget, the board purchased five fans and two air conditioners to be distributed to heat sensitive community members.

Additionally, resident Daniel Filiault has offered to donate two used air conditioners, said board member James “Jimbo” Doucette.

The application says, “applications will begin to be reviewed July 7, 2026, and will continue to be reviewed until all units are given away.” As of publication the town has not received any applicants. Find an application here.

“I would like to get them out as soon as we can to help people deal with the heat,” board Chair Nancy Hopper said at the meeting on Tuesday.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heat-sensitive community members are those who are at higher risk of getting sick from the heat including people over 65, infants and children, pregnant people and those with chronic conditions such as, asthma, heart condition.

The full article is available on iBerkshires.