LONDONDERRY — During these times of financial instability, Warm Homes, the grassroots program for one-time emergency fuel assistance, is now entering its fifth year.
"This will be a difficult year," said founder and CEO Kathy Wagner.
"We will take each person who calls for help on a case-by-case basis as to neediness and true emergency. The rest will be put on a waiting list."
Last year, the program helped more than 80 residents and Warm Homes has received 20 requests already as the winter months approach.
While most of the calls are from elderly residents pinching pennies to get by, Wagner is seeing newly unemployed heads-of-households requesting help.
"People are in the 55- to 60-year-old group who are unlikely to find a job right away," she said.
"Many of them don't qualify for the state's fuel assistance program, either."
The maximum gross income for a family of four to be eligible for fuel assistance is $4,370 a month.
Warm Homes is a non-profit organization and 100 percent of donations goes directly to buying fuel. Fundraising for this year's needs was kicked off with a bonfire at Mack's Apples on Sunday. For the fifth year, Londonderry Senior Citizens Inc. has generously donated $2,000.
"This will help about 10 families," Wagner said.
With fuel prices down this year, Wagner estimates that Warm Homes will spend around $225 per fuel request.
Granite Ridge Energy has also stepped up for the fifth year with a donation of $1500.
Each year there is also a fundraiser in the school district for children to bring in $1 toward the Warm Homes fund. This year's school drive is planned for the week of Nov. 30.
If you are interested in donating, mail your check, made payable to Londonderry Comforts—Warm Homes, to P.O. Box 329, Londonderry, NH 03053.
The Warm Homes fuel help-line is 232-9131, and since it is manned by volunteers, Wagner asks callers to leave a message.
