PARSONS – The weather lately has been so frigid – and most folks enjoy going home and warming up. But others, because of a loss of a job, an unexpected car or home repair or other event, have to choose between eating and paying utility bills – and face the fear of dealing with the cold weather without heat or electricity.
One local church initiated a fund to make sure folks don’t have to make those difficult choices, and assure their neighbors stay warm during winter.
Debbie Stevens, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church member, said Warm the Families started a few years ago as a continuation of a program where the church was paying an electric bill for a member.
“That person passed away, and we decided to take the money we were paying monthly, about $150, and we wanted to find a better way to administer the program,” Stevens said. “We met with Amy Owens, who handles a lot of utility bills through her job and works with community members when they need assistance.”
Stevens said they selected ‘Warm the Families’ as the name of the program and they challenged other local churches to make donations for the fund.
“Our women’s group at the church donate the funds we make at our annual apple pie filling fundraiser to Warm the Families,” Stevens said. “This year, I think we donated around $1,500 to the fund through our fundraiser.”
Stevens said Owens takes the money donated and leverages it to get more funds to help those in need.
“At North Central, it is like a clearinghouse,” Stevens said. “One person handles everything and those that need assistance can go through one person and not have to go to three or four folks to get the assistance they need. Owens has all of the training and it’s a win-win for everybody.”
Stevens stressed that she hopes other churches and groups will take up the challenge to give to the Warm the Families fund. “This is only for heating the home – propane, electric or gas.”
Warm the Families is a community partnership between North Central Community Action and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Parsons, as well as other churches, private donors, the Tucker Community Foundation and other community entities. NCCA Community Services Assistant Amy Owens said the program helps those in need.
“The funds for this program are only used for folks in Tucker County,” Owens said. “They go for gas shut-off, electricity or heating fuel. We combine the money with other funds so we can keep people from having shut offs and keep folks heat on for the winter months.”
Owens said St. Paul’s representatives approached her because they wanted to donate funds to help the community. “I told them funds to help with heating, electricity and gas is something that is needed. She said folks go through an application and must be income eligible.
Last year, Owens said Warm the Families provided funds to help more than 50 families to keep heat in their homes during the cold winter months. “One person did not have any propane at all and had small children. We helped them fill their tank. We enjoy helping folks and that is what the church members want the money to go to. Donors know their monies stay here in Tucker County to help their neighbors in need.”
Owens said families who receive help are very grateful and tend to become emotional.
“They are used to being told no, because there are not a lot of programs to help,” Owens said. “If a family tries to go through DHHR, you can only make about $550 per month for the whole family. Some folks are eligible for LEAP, the low energy assistance fund – we can help them keep their heat on until that program and gives folks the time to catch up and get through the rough patch they are facing.”
Owen stresses that Warm the Families is not Band-Aid program. “It helps families get over that hump until they can get back on their feet.”
Additional information about Warm the Families is available by contacting Owens at North Central Community Action by calling 304-478-3536 or by visiting the office located to 513 Central Ave. in Parsons. The office is open Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
