Webster Five Donates To Community Fuel Fund

Webster Five, with locations in Shrewsbury, Auburn, Dudley, Oxford, Webster, and Worcester, recently made a donation of $25,000 to bolster Worcester Community Action Council's (WCAC) Emergency Fuel Fund. With retail prices for energy at or near multi-year highs across the United States, WCAC is bracing for an extremely challenging winter heating season, having already seen an increase of more than 200% in new applications to its federally-funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). WCAC's Emergency Fuel Fund supports some of the most vulnerable households in our region – seniors, disabled individuals, veterans, and families with young children – especially after their federal fuel assistance allocation has been depleted. Last winter WCAC processed more than 13,500 applications for home heating assistance.

"We are incredibly grateful for Webster Five's generosity and for responding to our request for support quickly and robustly as we head into what will undoubtedly be a very challenging winter heating season for so many households throughout our service area," said WCAC Executive Director Marybeth Campbell. "While we continue to work with our elected officials at both the state and federal level to increase funding levels, these privately donated dollars will go a long way in allowing us to assist vulnerable households who are facing no-heat emergencies and have expended their federal subsidy."
“Webster Five always has been and always will be involved in efforts to better our community,” said Don Doyle, President and CEO, Webster Five. “Making sure vulnerable households have access to heat during the winter is critically important, and we are proud to support the impactful effort of the WCAC.”
“Serving on the board of WCAC gives me a unique perspective on this organization and the incredible work its staff does to support citizens in our community” Brian Westerlind, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Webster Five. “I’m very pleased that Webster Five is taking a leadership position on this issue and know that our donation will be put to very good use.”
LIHEAP, best known as fuel assistance or home heating assistance, helps homeowners and renters pay home heating bills and past-due balances on utility bills. Financial assistance is available for income-eligible households to help pay home heating bills incurred between November 1 – April 30 of each year. WCAC is encouraging any household struggling with high home heating bills to consider applying. Benefits are determined based on a household's combined income. For the current heating season, a single individual can be making as much as $42,000 and be eligible for assistance; a household of four can earn $81,000. Income eligibility guidelines and details about applying can be found on WCAC's website at www.WCAC.net.
Communities served by WCAC’S home heating assistance program include Worcester, Auburn, Brookfield, Boylston, Charlton, Charlton City, Charlton Depot, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Holden, Jefferson, Leicester, Cherry Valley, Rochdale, Millbury, North Brookfield, Oakham, Oxford, North Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Southbridge, Spencer, Sturbridge, Fiskdale, Sutton, Manchaug, Warren, West Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield. Organizations providing assistance for other cities and towns can be found at www.HeatingHelpMA.org.