Some help, and some advice, to people who might be having trouble paying their heating bills this winter. Natural Gas Company Dominion Energy Tuesday donated $10,000 to help out.
Energy Assistance Vice President Joe Guarinello said he knows utility bills are a growing concern for a lot of people.
“About ten years ago, fifteen years ago, the utility bill was like number ten on the family budget. It’s now grown to be in the top three to five, so people have to focus on how to get the money to stay warm,” Guarinello said.
The company’s donation goes into National Grid’s Care and Share program. Spokesperson Al Bianchetti has advice for those struggling with bills – don’t wait to come forward.
“Sometimes people want to put it aside and hope something will happen that will correct the course that they’re on. That may happen, but the sooner customers contact us the sooner we can turn to the funds made available,” Bianchetti said.
The donation was made at PEACE Incorporated’s Eastside Family Resource Center. PEACE’s manager Rasheada Caldwell said the center has much more to offer than just the program with National Grid.
“We provide a lot of services here. We don’t just deal with National Grid here. We have programs with the county, and the lead department, health insurance, food pantry, toiletry closet, case management, mental health services. We do a lot of programs with inside the site right here. So people our doors are always opening and closing. Sometimes quick services and sometimes they’re long services,” said Caldwell.
People having trouble with bills can contact PEACE Incorporated or National Grid for help and to determine eligibility. Those who are receiving public assistance, supplemental security income, food stamps or other public assistance or the elderly may qualify for the financial aid.
