Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association has kicked off its annual campaign to raise money for the "Gift of Warmth."
The Gift of Warmth is a cooperative program between GWMA, Combined Community Services and NIPSCO designed to assist people who need help paying their heating bills during the winter months.
GWMA leads the fundraising effort, CCS administers the local program, and for each $1 collected, NIPSCO will match that $1, dollar for dollar, to help pay someone's NIPSCO bill. Last year, NIPSCO matched $22,000 for Gift of Warmth recipients in this area, $9,000 of which came through area churches and GWMA.
CCS is locally designated as the contact point for people needing assistance with gas and electric bills. Peggi Wright, CCS director of client assistance, processes requests for assistance and determines qualification for the program according to NIPSCO's guidelines, based on income at or below 125 percent of the poverty level or other temporary hardship. Assistance is available only once, and 100 percent of the money raised goes toward NIPSCO's matching program - no administration costs are involved.
According to Ken Locke, treasurer of GWMA, churches in the area are approaching the fundraising effort in different ways. Some are asking members of the congregation to give an extra $1 in specially marked envelopes, others have designated a Gift of Warmth Sunday, and some are using special children's donations. Bulletin inserts will be available through GWMA. The campaign will continue through Nov. 19.
Locke said, "We want to take care of families. A family being without heat in the winter is a terrible thing to think about or see. Our (GWMA's) greater mission is to help people out there who are hurting. It's our command from Christ."
CCS was established by area churches in 1984. Lewis Jones, executive director of CCS, said, "CCS has a great partnership with the Ministerial Association. We have the same common goals. On behalf of CCS, I thank Ken and the churches for all their support."
For more information, call Locke at 574-268-7697. Direct donations may be made to GWMA, P.O. Box 1797, Warsaw, IN 46581-1797. Make checks payable to GWMA and write "Gift of Warmth" on the memo line.
