Energy assistance for low-income Oregon families

I noticed that my crocuses are popping out of the ground and last year’s primroses are blooming as well.  Our local weatherperson said that we could hit 62 degrees, first time since last October. Pretty soon I am going to have to get that lawnmower out and cut the grass. – I know, what does this have to do with helping low-income Oregonians with Emergency Energy Assistance? 

Well sometimes I forget that with the warming up of spring and the fact that I may not need to turn my heat up or even on, depending how warms its getting, that there are thousands of Oregonians who have to make hard decisions weather to pay their heating bill or purchase food for their families.  These decisions maybe based on the fact that the family cannot afford to do both because of a job loss or maybe they’re working, but not enough hours to pay all the bills or even an illness in the family that attributed to having higher than expected medical bills – there are many reasons that low-income Oregonians may have for not being able to keep their homes warm and pay their heating bills.  So sometimes it is easy to forget that even though it’s warmer, people still need help from folks like you and me through Oregon HEAT’s Global Giving Project: Emergency Energy Assistance Program.

All of the donors who have given to the Global Giving Emergency Energy Assistance project over the past couple of years should be very proud of how their donations were used. More than $6,000 has been raised and that has helped more than 60 Oregonians with heat to keep their homes warm during the winter months. That means those 60 individuals had a warm home and could keep food on the table for their families.

As we move into to spring and see more flowers blooming, the trees leafing out and hear the sounds of lawnmowers revving up in our neighborhoods, I hope you’ll join with me and give a donation to help neighbors around us who for some financial reasons cannot afford to keep their homes warm and may need help with their heating bills.  Join with me to feel good knowing that we care about our fellow Oregonians and want to help.  Join with me and donate today!

The ground is not white, there are no ice cycles hanging from the eves of the house and the big guy with the sleigh hasn’t pulled onto the roof yet.  Even so, winter is here in Oregon.  May low-income families around the state are already asking for help with their heating.  I talked with a person in need just the other day and they said they had just had their electricity shut off and had no way of heating their home.  Another caller to us said that if she didn’t receive a little bit of help in the next few days that she would also see her heat cut off.  The need is great and the dollars to help are not enough to cover everyone.

Oregon HEAT partners with 31 different agencies and three utility company’s around Oregon.  If you listen to their representatives, you’ll hear a repetitive theme; we are overwhelmed with the amount of requests for energy assistance. 

Global giving donors always step up to the plate to help their neighbors in need.  To date, you have reached out to Oregon HEAT with more than $5,000 to help low-income Oregonians with energy assistance.  It takes on average $300 to help one family stay warm during the winter.  So as we are looking for the white stuff on the ground or seeing ice cycles on the gutters or if your believe – the Big Red Suited Jolly guy will land on your roof soon, take the time to donate today to help the many thousands of families across Oregon that just need a little help to keep their home warm this winter.  Donate today.

I wish all of you, Happy Holiday and A Wonderful NEW YEAR!!!!

Links:

• Oregon HEAT's Website

• This is Serena (PDF)