FARMINGTON – The Franklin County Ecumenical Heating Fund is launching a Community Heating Challenge for churches, civic organizations, businesses and individuals to raise $7,500 by November, in order to have enough money in the fund to respond to the anticipated need for fuel assistance this fall.
In 2009, 150 families needed help with fuel during the months of September, October and November. ECU HEAT was able to supply 100 gallons of heating fuel to all 150 families, at a total cost of $45,000. Outside funding from several foundations made it possible to supply that need. However, most of the grants were not renewable, leaving the Ecumenical Heating Fund with under $10,000 on hand for the upcoming fall season. Records show that 75 percent of the need for local fuel assistance is requested before winter begins. Once federal LIHEAP funds arrive in Maine, the ongoing needs can be mostly met with federal funds, but prior to Dec. 1, lower income residents need help from their neighbors.
Recently, the Franklin County Ecumenical Heating Fund gratefully received a grant of $7,500 to be used for fuel assistance for Franklin County residents. This donation represents the second installment of a three-year grant from the Sandy River Charitable Foundation. This brings the balance in the ECU HEAT Fund up to $17,000. It is hoped that Franklin County communities will match this gift with $17,000 local dollars. By raising $17,000 by November, the Ecumenical Heating fund hopes to have enough money on hand to assist low-income residents with half-deliveries. This fall only 50-gallon fuel deliveries will be authorized, in order to stretch available dollars. Since most fuel dealers will only deliver 100 gallons, families in need will still be required to pay for 50 gallons on their own, while ECU HEAT covers the cost of the other 50 gallons. Another change is that no fuel assistance will be given until October this year.
If another $17,000 can be raised by the communities of Franklin County this fall, then ECU HEAT will be able to cover the cost of at least 50-gallon deliveries for the anticipated 150 families who may call for assistance. The Ecumenical Heating Fund provided fuel assistance last year to families in 19 different towns in Franklin County. The fund is operated by Farmington Area Ecumenical Ministry (FAEM) for the benefit of families throughtout the county.
Donations are tax-deductible and may be mailed to: ECU HEAT at P.O. Box 147, Farmington, ME 04938. All donations by check will be acknowledged. The recipients of your donation could be a young mother with an infant in a cold mobile home or an elderly neighbor whose Social Security check just doesn’t stretch far enough to cover the cost of an oil delivery. Yet again, your gift could help a family suddenly faced with two layoffs and no way to keep the children warm.
Calls to request fuel assistance are received by WMCA at 645-3764, Extension 5523. Residents are encouraged to apply for LIHEAP as soon as possible, in order to expedite the ability to receive fuel assistance prior to December. Appointments may be made by calling WMCA and applications are currently being taken at various locations throughout the county.
