Seniors living at Agawam Village and Redwood Park won't be left out in the cold this winter even if the power goes out.

On Thursday morning the Community and Economic Development Authority (CEDA), handed a donation in the  amount of $12,160 over to the Wareham Housing Authority to put toward the purchase of two generators.

The generators will power the community buildings at Agawam Village and Redwood Park, the affordable senior housing developments overseen by the housing authority, in the event that a storm knocks the power out.

"If people are on a respirator they can come here, plug in and keep warm," said housing authority board member Rudy Santos.

Residents have the option of going to the Multi-Service Center on Marion Road to keep warm, but will now be able to stay close to home.

"It was obviously an urgent need for the folks here," said  CEDA Director Salvador Pina. "For us this was a very important opportunity to give back to the community and to our senior citizens."

Agawam resident Henry Fernandes has been pushing for the purchase of generators for the past two-and-a-half years, and said he and other residents are pleased with recent improvements, and confident that there are more to come.

"I think we can make this work with help from the rest of you. We can't do this alone," he said

Wareham Housing Authority Chair Bob Powilatis had asked the public for donations, but they were trickling in slowly, and winter is right around the corner.

"Residents will no longer  have to suffer the effects of power outages," said Powilatis as he thanked CEDA and the Board of Selectmen, who have to approve the donation.

Agawam resident Margaret Pina suffered Carbon Monoxide poisoning last winter after using her oven to heat her home.

"I ended up in the hospital because we didn't have power for three days," she said. "I was weak, I couldn't walk."

The fire department had her air out her home, and a niece picked up and took her to the hospital.

"When I was a kid I used to go around with one of my friends and deliver papers here," said Selectmen Chair Peter Teitelbaum, noting that the place was in much better shape at that point. "It was a safe and secure place for the people who live here."

He went on to say that the residents deserve to live in homes that are well maintained.

"Senior citizens are not disposable, and we need to do what we can to take care of them."