BRATTLEBORO — It's the time of year again when the Windham County Heat Fund reminds all of the generous people in the county that our less fortunate friends and neighbors will need your help once again as we approach another heating season.
The Windham County Heat Fund was created in 2005 by Richard Davis and me to help people in Windham County who were not able to buy enough heating fuel to make it through that winter.
In 2010, the Heat Fund was incorporated as an IRS 501(c)3 tax-exempt, tax-deductible non-profit entity. At the time, oil prices were escalating, and we thought our efforts would be needed only for a year or two.
Over the years, we have come to learn that there is a constant need to supplement state and federal fuel-assistance programs for those who fall through the cracks and for those who run out of fuel-assistance allotments.
Over the 15 years of the Heat Fund's existence, we have raised over $500,000 from individuals, local businesses, and foundations such as the Thomas Thompson Trust and the Ellen Willard Trust. Our fundraising goal for the 2020-21 heating season is $50,000.
Richard and I do not take any payment for our effort, and we provide postage and office supplies out of our own pockets, for the most part. Most years our administrative expenses are pretty close to $0.00.
We do not give money directly to individuals, but we pay for fuel directly to fuel dealers.
In addition, we try to vet all applications, working with SEVCA and other local human-service organizations. Almost all of the staff at fuel dealers know a lot about the lives of their customers, and we also rely on them to help us with our mission. They have become an invaluable resource for the heat fund.
We have tried to ask people not to rely on us every year, and we have asked people to take a year off from applying. But we do look at each application carefully and make decisions based on each individual circumstance. People's lives are complicated, and hard-and-fast rules do not work most of the time.
Donations may be sent to Richard Davis, c/o Windham County Heat Fund, 679 Weatherhead Hollow Road, Guilford, VT 05301 or made directly at Brattleboro Savings and Loan.
Thank you for your continuing support.