BRATTLEBORO — Thanks to a recent large donation, the Windham County Heat Fund has met more than half of its $8,000 goal as part of a Thomas Thompson Trust matching grant.
The Brattleboro Ford-Subaru dealerships recently presented Heat Fund founders Richard Davis and Daryl Pillsbury with checks totaling $4,300 from the company's holiday season “Love Our Community” and “Share The Love Twice” fundraisers.
The Brattleboro-based dealerships raised more than $40,000 for aid. A large portion of those funds will go to help fund Brattleboro Memorial Hospital's new emergency room.
The portion raised from both events for the Heat Fund will be used as a one-to-one match for the Thompson Trust Grant. When the match grant is reached, it will mean that $16,000 will be available to buy fuel for many of Windham County's more vulnerable residents during the winter heating season.
Davis and Pillsbury created the Heat Fund nine years ago and have since raised more than $200,000 to help supplement fuel needs of people who often have to decide whether to buy food or fuel during Vermont's lengthy heating season.
Funds raised by the Heat Fund, a federally registered non-profit, go directly to fuel dealers. The Heat Fund said in a press release it has almost no administrative overhead and operates with a small board and all-volunteer help.
Although many low-income Vermonters received federal and state fuel assistance this year, recipients are finding that their allotment is not going very far. In some cases the funding they receive is not enough to pay for a minimum fuel delivery.
The Heat Fund has been able to help these people supplement their fuel assistance with a one-time boost of all types of fuel, usually valued around $400 to $600. Applications are reviewed and the Heat Fund works closely with Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA) to make sure that applicants make use of all available resources.