By Ron Bannister | Development Director
One of the best times of the year is right now – Fall. The days are starting to get a bit shorter but still warm. The evenings are nice and cool. The trees are turning beautiful colors of red, orange, and yellow. It is a wonderful time to enjoy the outdoors in the Northwest. Even as the temperatures are quite mild now, we know that the cold of winter is just around the next turn.
Each year in Oregon there are as many as 440,000 individuals who may need assistance with their heat and power during the winter months. With all resources, including state, federal and HEAT Oregon funding, only 20 percent of those in need receive the assistance, 80% end up going without the help they need. That is a large disparity. Even as Oregon and most of the nation has seen an upturn in the economy, there are still many people not making enough income and struggling to make ends meet. Many of these folks have to choose between paying for their heat and electricity and purchasing needed medicine and food for their families.
This past heating season, HEAT Oregon was able to help nearly 10,000 Oregonians with their heat and power. That included 4,010 children, 1,359 seniors and 1,065 persons with a disability. Global Giving donors shared in helping these people as well. In fact since the Energy Assistance for low-income Oregon Families Project was put in place, Global Giving Donors have contributed more than $6,000 to help their neighbors with heat and warmth during the cold and damp Oregon winters.
Even as HEAT Oregon is proud of the accomplishments our donors have been able to make, the number of Oregonians that still need assistance is great. With winter coming just around the next turn, we know that there will be many requests for help with heating and power assistance. We are asking all our donors including our wonderful Global Giving donors to reach out and donate what you can to help those that will need.
A donation of just $8 per month would be able to help one individual with their heat and power – A donation of $25 per month would help and entire family needing assistance if given over an entire year. Give what you can today and together we can help our neighbors in need around Oregon during the cold of winter.
Thank you for your donations!
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