SEVCA Puts Out Plea for Help for Emergency Fuel Funds

SEVCA and WCFR radio are kicking off the 5^th annual “Share the Warmth” Campaign to raise funds to assist households in need with emergency fuel deliveries.

The “Share the Warmth” Fund has been used to help households who can’t be served by the federally-funded fuel assistance program. Many of those served by the fund are working households who may earn just too much to receive assistance, but cannot afford a fuel delivery. Each winter, generous donors have come through to truly “Share the Warmth” as the local businesses, churches, organizations, and individuals of Windham and Windsor Counties have stepped forward to address the need and raise funds to help local residents keep their homes heated. SEVCA reports that over the last year, many more local households have been touched by the economic crisis, and a variety of local disasters. It is having a terrible impact now. “There’s no time to spare. We are getting call after call from people seeking help because it is already cold, and the Crisis Fuel program funds are not available usually until the end of November. People are doing what we call “canning it”, filling up small containers of kerosene for their tanks as they have the money. We need to raise money that can help them right now,” stressed SEVCA Family Services Director Pat Burke.

The Vermont State Fuel office reports that they expect dramatic cuts to the LIHEAP (Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program) this year. The Share the Warmth fund helps to fill the gap in this region. “With these funds, we are able to assist people in need that were out of the loop such as seniors and the working poor,” explained Burke “There are many low-wage workers who need this kind of assistance, especially parents who should not have to make those awful ‘heat or eat’ decisions.”

The idea for the “Share the Warmth” campaign was originally born in October 2007, when WCFR’s new Station Manager Ray Kimball and members of Southeastern Vermont Community Action’s management team first met to address the impending heating fuel crisis. “Ray has been such a great supporter. He’s been behind us all the way, getting the word out there,” noted SEVCA Development Director Lisa Jane Clarke. “As people in rural areas continue to struggle and costs rise, the demand continues to escalate. Last year we were only able to meet 82% of the need, and with the impact of Tropical storm Irene this year, we expect an even greater demand for services. No one should have to go without heat, it puts the most vulnerable people’s lives at risk, including children. This is an appeal to the community to please reach out and make a difference.”

     If you wish to donate to SEVCA to help keep people from “falling through the cracks” and risking their health and safety by going cold, you can pay by credit card via PayPal by going to www.sevca.org . You may drop their donation off at the “Good Buy” stores in Springfield, White River Junction or Bellows Falls during the “Share the Warmth” Campaign, or send a check to SEVCA, 91 Buck Drive, Westminster, VT 05158, or call (802) 722-4575 to charge their gift to their credit card or to get more information. All contributions to SEVCA are 100% tax deductible.