Donations Sought For Winter Heating Assistance

…With energy costs rising, officials expect this winter will place unprecedented demand on the state’s heating aid programs.

“We really need everyone’s help,” said the executive direcotr of Operation Fuel, Patricia Wrice, recounting the story of an elderly man in eastern Connecticut who received aid for the first time last winter. “The following week, he called to say he’d taken a hot shower for the first time in two months.”


Operation Fuel and other state heating aid programs could see volume increase this winter, not only because of high energy prices, but because they’ve also been given $4 million in state funding to tell qualifying residents about the programs. The money would pay for outreach programs directed at people who may need state aid but are unaware of assistance programs or have been too embarrassed to apply in the past.

Hartford Courant (Connecticut)