Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, the United Way of Aroostook’s Keep the County Warm fund has exceeded $91,000.
Prior to receiving the grant, more than $41,000 was raised at the local level to help families heat their homes this winter. Those funds have been distributed through Aroostook Area Agency on Aging, Helping Hands for Children and Families, and Aroostook County Action Program through their emergency funding program.
“The United Way board of directors and staff were elated with the award and the board wants to extend its sincere heartfelt appreciation to the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation for their generosity,” said Claudia Stevens, executive director of the United Way of Aroostook. “This will help so many people survive in this economically difficult time.”
Some of the funds will be held in reserve in anticipation of another difficult heating season next fall.
“We have decided that we will probably spend an additional $10,000 on energy-related issues for this spring to get people through,” said Stevens, “and then we’d hold about $40,000 and use it in the fall when the need is there again.
“Should there be a need, we have access to that money,” she said. “We want to keep some in reserve. There are no indicators that it’s going to be an easier winter next winter.”
During last December’s 61st annual Presque Isle Rotary Club Radio-TV Auction, the United Way partnered with the Rotary Club to launch the effort to raise funds to help approximately 300 Aroostook County households get through the winter.
Keep the County Warm is dedicated to keeping northern Maine homes warm by raising money for energy assistance. Grants from the Keep the County Warm fund are awarded to pay for home energy costs, no matter what type of fuel is used – propane, kerosene, wood, electricity or fuel oil. An ambitious goal was set to provide enough funding for 30,000 gallons of heating fuel, translating to approximately $105,000.
“We have exceeded our goal,” said Stevens. “We’re over 45,000 gallons, which is great. The first $41,000 that came in is spent. At that time, the need was pretty dramatic but it has slowed down considerably.”
Anyone wishing to donate to the Keep the County Warm fund can do so by calling the United Way of Aroostook at 764-5197 or mailing a check made payable to The United Way of Aroostook – Keep the County Warm to United Way of Aroostook, 480 Main St., 3rd Floor, Presque Isle, Maine 04769. Donation pledges can also be obtained by logging onto www.unitedwayarooostook.org.
