Gift Of Warmth Helped 873 Local Households
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Nearly six months ago, Combined Community Services officials worried the anticipated increases in heating costs would put a large burden on the Gift of Warmth program.
But after experiencing a fairly mild winter, the organization, in cooperation with the Northern Indiana Public Service Co., helped to assist 873 county households with utility expenses.
"We've done what we can for the winter," CCS Director of Client Assistance Peggi Lisenbee-Wright said. "But this is an ongoing effort. The need is never over."
With the Gift of Warmth program coming to its yearly end Thursday, Lisenbee-Wright and Executive Director Laura Cooper will focus their attention on how individuals will be helped in the future.
The program offers one-time assistance to low-income residents of up to $450 for gas utility bills. With regulations, a customer can qualify for the assistance once during a 12-month rolling period.
A $14,000 grant from the United Way presented Thursday will help CCS continue to aid individuals through Gift of Warmth. Throughout the winter, CCS and NIPSCO paid for more than $190,000 of client's utility bills.
"The good news is we helped a lot of people," Lisenbee-Wright said.
Of the United Way grant, $4,000 will be used for the Winter Warmth program, and the remaining amount will be dispersed to many of the organization's other programs.
"The support we've seen, both financially and through supportive spirit, have been wonderful," Cooper said. "It's great to see that people believe in what we're doing." [[In-content Ad]]
Nearly six months ago, Combined Community Services officials worried the anticipated increases in heating costs would put a large burden on the Gift of Warmth program.
But after experiencing a fairly mild winter, the organization, in cooperation with the Northern Indiana Public Service Co., helped to assist 873 county households with utility expenses.
"We've done what we can for the winter," CCS Director of Client Assistance Peggi Lisenbee-Wright said. "But this is an ongoing effort. The need is never over."
With the Gift of Warmth program coming to its yearly end Thursday, Lisenbee-Wright and Executive Director Laura Cooper will focus their attention on how individuals will be helped in the future.
The program offers one-time assistance to low-income residents of up to $450 for gas utility bills. With regulations, a customer can qualify for the assistance once during a 12-month rolling period.
A $14,000 grant from the United Way presented Thursday will help CCS continue to aid individuals through Gift of Warmth. Throughout the winter, CCS and NIPSCO paid for more than $190,000 of client's utility bills.
"The good news is we helped a lot of people," Lisenbee-Wright said.
Of the United Way grant, $4,000 will be used for the Winter Warmth program, and the remaining amount will be dispersed to many of the organization's other programs.
"The support we've seen, both financially and through supportive spirit, have been wonderful," Cooper said. "It's great to see that people believe in what we're doing." [[In-content Ad]]