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Share the Warmth Almost
Halfway
by Stephen Seitz
SPRINGFIELD -- Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA)
is almost half way to its goal of raising $40,000 in fuel assistance for the
coming winter.
As of today, SEVCA has raised $17,345 toward the cause.
"People have been very generous," said SEVCA Planning and
Development Director Lisa Clarke, calling this "an excellent start."
Of the total so far, $5,000 is a gift from Merchants' Bank, who also
matched CVPS' Shareheat program, which is separate from SEVCA's.
"Share the Warmth" was created to assist those who are not eligible for
state or federal fuel programs; that is, people making more than the
income limit to qualify, but who still can't afford fuel delivery. By the end
of last season, according to SEVCA, fuel oil had hit $4.79 per gallon, and
kerosene as high as $5.76.
Right now, according to the federal Energy Information Administration,
heating oil prices have been dropping steadily in Vermont from an average
of $3.79 per gallon at the beginning of the month to $3.33 as of Oct. 27,
but overall trends show heating oil prices steadily rising as winter draws
closer.
Hardest hit, according to SEVCA, are the working poor, people in the
service or tourism industries, the self-employed (tell me about it), the
elderly living off IRAs, and people with high expenses brought on by
taxes, divorce, child support and the like, as well as people laid low with
illness and injury.
The need, Clarke said, is illustrated by the huge jump in assistance
requested last year, when SEVCA spent $512,000 to help people out.
The year before, SEVCA spent $231,000.
"Last year," said Clarke, "Share the Warmth raised approximately
$19,000. Our realistic goal is to double that, but we would like to at least
triple that this year, as the need is that high."
There are several ways to donate: drop a check off at the Good Buy
stores in Springfield and Bellows Falls; send money to SEVCA, 91 Buck
Drive, Westminster, VT 05158; via PayPal at www.sevca.org; or over the
phone with a credit card at 722-4575.
Clarke in particular wanted to thank the campaign's principal
sponsors, WCFR, Walnut Hill Realty, Cota & Cota, and Valley
Photofieds.
Halfway
by Stephen Seitz
SPRINGFIELD -- Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA)
is almost half way to its goal of raising $40,000 in fuel assistance for the
coming winter.
As of today, SEVCA has raised $17,345 toward the cause.
"People have been very generous," said SEVCA Planning and
Development Director Lisa Clarke, calling this "an excellent start."
Of the total so far, $5,000 is a gift from Merchants' Bank, who also
matched CVPS' Shareheat program, which is separate from SEVCA's.
"Share the Warmth" was created to assist those who are not eligible for
state or federal fuel programs; that is, people making more than the
income limit to qualify, but who still can't afford fuel delivery. By the end
of last season, according to SEVCA, fuel oil had hit $4.79 per gallon, and
kerosene as high as $5.76.
Right now, according to the federal Energy Information Administration,
heating oil prices have been dropping steadily in Vermont from an average
of $3.79 per gallon at the beginning of the month to $3.33 as of Oct. 27,
but overall trends show heating oil prices steadily rising as winter draws
closer.
Hardest hit, according to SEVCA, are the working poor, people in the
service or tourism industries, the self-employed (tell me about it), the
elderly living off IRAs, and people with high expenses brought on by
taxes, divorce, child support and the like, as well as people laid low with
illness and injury.
The need, Clarke said, is illustrated by the huge jump in assistance
requested last year, when SEVCA spent $512,000 to help people out.
The year before, SEVCA spent $231,000.
"Last year," said Clarke, "Share the Warmth raised approximately
$19,000. Our realistic goal is to double that, but we would like to at least
triple that this year, as the need is that high."
There are several ways to donate: drop a check off at the Good Buy
stores in Springfield and Bellows Falls; send money to SEVCA, 91 Buck
Drive, Westminster, VT 05158; via PayPal at www.sevca.org; or over the
phone with a credit card at 722-4575.
Clarke in particular wanted to thank the campaign's principal
sponsors, WCFR, Walnut Hill Realty, Cota & Cota, and Valley
Photofieds.
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| Share the Warmth Link http:// www.sevca.org/sharethewarmth/ share.warmth.htm |
