January 20, 2017 – Across the country, non-profits and fuel funds are kicking off campaigns to provide low-income energy assistance. In some places, community events are used to raise funds. Vermont and West Virginia are hosting such events in January and February. Vermont will start the “Ski for Heat” event on January 21, and West Virginia will kickoff the “Warming Hands and Hearts” Initiative on February 1.
Vermont’s Ski for Heat Event
Vermont’s Ski for Heat campaign has operated for over 17 years and has raised more than $380,000. All funds raised are donated to BROC-Community Action for use by local residents, even those who don’t qualify for LIHEAP assistance but are still in danger of “falling through the cracks.”
The event kicks off at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 21 with music by local blues singer Bob Stannard. Those attending the performance are encouraged to donate $20.
The Following week, on Sunday January 29, Wild Wings Ski Touring Center and Bromley Ski Area will host the on-the-snow event. Participants are asked to pre-register by Saturday for a special $40 all day ski pass. Half of the proceeds will go to Ski for Heat. Season pass holders can participate by making a $20 donation to Ski for Heat, and participants who bring their own donations or pledges will receive an all-day, all-trail pass.
The Ski for Heat event will also host a chicken-wing eating challenge at Bromley’s Wild Board Tavern. If participants finish the wings in three minutes, made with Chef Eileen Arnet’s handmade Bromley Bomb Sauce, they will win a lift ticket, and Bromley will donate $25 dollars to Ski for Heat.
West Virginia’s Warming Hearts and Hands Initiative
West Virginia’s Warming Hands and Hearts Initiative kicks off on February 1 at Rocs convenience store in Martinsburg, VA. The event will include free coffee, photos with Rocky the Raccoon, and a prize wheel with free coupons. Rocs will offer a “One-Cent-Wednesday” promotion during the event, where each store location in West Virginia will donate one cent for each gallon of gas sold.
Rocs will also donate $1 for every new “Like” on Facebook during the initiative. Customers are invited to compete in the “WHH17 Selfie Challenge.” For every selfie taken at a Rocs store and posted to Facebook with the Hashtag #WHH17, Rocs will donate $5 to Warming Hearts and Hands Initiative.
Other Approaches
Across the nation, there are other sorts of events underway to raise funds for families in need of bill-payment assistance. Maine’s Keep Me Warm telethon, held on January 19, will provide phone banks in Portland and Bangor to receive donations over-the-phone. An event in Battle Creek, Michigan, assisted Consumers Energy customers in applying for the company’s Consumers Affordable Resource for Energy (CARE) program.
So whether you’re Skiing for Heat, or Warming Hearts and Hands you can make a difference by making a donation and attending an event. Look for events in your state so that you can also contribute to ensuring no one is left without heat in your community.
