Keeping Neighbors Warm
In February 2008, Keeping Neighbors Warm came into existence to address a single urgent issue of providing fuel assistance to families that had fallen victim to a local oil dealer’s business failure. These families had pre-paid this oil dealer for their home heating needs but the business failure left them without oil or the money they would need to purchase oil from another dealer.
Our efforts to raise money were very successful and we were able to address the immediate need for these families as well as many other families that found themselves unable to afford the rising prices for home heating oil but failed to qualify for general assistance or LIHEAP due to their income.
In total our group of volunteers raised more than $120,000 and assisted more than 400 families heat their homes. Because KNW is an all volunteer group, more than 98% of every dollar donated was able to go directly toward fuel purchases and furnace cleanings.
Thirty –six months since we started, we find ourselves at an impasse. We have exhausted all of our funds and the competition for charitable giving is getting more competitive every day. In addition, our volunteers, who initially saw this effort as a limited commitment, are feeling pressure for their time from other programs as well as from their families. As a result, our board has determined that we are forced to terminate our efforts and sadly, bring this program to a close.
We are extremely grateful to all those that generously donated their time, talents and money to make a difference in the lives of more than 400 families in Northern York County over the past three years. Our efforts would not have been possible without the assistance and cooperation of our general assistance partners in each community, Southern Maine Agency on Aging and the Salvation Army.
Thank You!
Bill Southwick
On Behalf of the entire Keeping Neighbors Warm Board