Residents reach out to keep mobile home resident cool

By EMILIE RAGUSO
eraguso@modbee.com

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Annie Knapp has a new air conditioner, thanks to the kindness of a stranger.

At least a dozen area residents called and wrote The Bee expressing concern for Knapp's health during the heat after her story appeared Tuesday.

Knapp, 62, has lived for nine years in Driftwood Mobile Home Park off South Ninth Street in Modesto. She has a variety of health problems that make her vulnerable to heat.

San Joaquin Valley residents gasping for clean air

She dreads summer, she said, because she knows the heat makes it hard to catch her breath.

An air conditioner repairman, who wanted to remain anonymous, serviced her air conditioner earlier this week. But running the unit caused the power to go out in her home. Still, she was grateful for his effort and kindness, she said.

Betty Reynolds called The Bee on Wednesday to reach Knapp because she had an extra air conditioner. Knapp picked up the unit from Reynolds that day.

"I felt akin to her," said Reynolds, 66, of Empire. "Her and I seem to have the same kind of illness: a lung disease, chronic bronchitis and everything."

Reynolds said she might face the same challenges as Knapp if she didn't live with her daughter. She had planned to sell the air conditioner until she read Tuesday's story.

"I just felt for her," she said. "I was going to sell it, but I decided she needed that thing more than I needed to sell it."

Bee staff writer Emilie Raguso can be reached at eraguso@modbee.com or 578-2235.