Editor’s note: This is the next in the series on area residents helped by Rockingham Community Action and Community Action Partnership of Strafford County, which are beneficiaries of Seacoast Media Group’s annual Gift of Warmth fuel assistance fundraising program.
DOVER — The owners of fuel companies who partner with community action partnerships are often the unsung heroes of local fuel assistance programs. These firms sometimes accept less than they're owned for a delivery, and other times they'll accept no payment at all.
The region has seen a harsh winter to date, and heating costs have gone up. Residential heating oil prices this week steadied in eastern New Hampshire, ranging from roughly $2.80 to $2.90 per gallon, according to NewEnglandOil.com. The cost to fill a 275-gallon tank at $2.80 per gallon would be $770. The average price of heating oil in Maine this week was $2.94 per gallon, up from $2.31 on Nov. 6, 2017.
Betsy Andrews Parker, executive director of the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAP) said she appreciates all the help CAP receives from the community — donations that let them to provide fuel assistance to a very vulnerable population.
“If people knew how we contributed to the local economy and worked with local vendors it could go a long way in telling our story of how we are a community partner and a hand up not a hand out," Andrews Parker said. "We find it helps with donors to know who we work with.”
Two of the companies that work with CAP of Strafford County, and have for many years, are Eastern Propane of Rochester and DF Richard of Dover.
Penney Mabey has worked in credit and customer relations with Eastern Propane since 1990. Part of her job entails working with community action programs throughout New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont.
“We set customers up with their fuel assistance allotments and work with fuel assistance programs with payments and assistance,” Mabey said. “It is important for fuel companies to have a relationship with CAP because they are providing assistance for our customers.”
Fuel assistance is just one the ways Eastern Propane helps the cities and towns it serves.
“We assist many residents who reside in our communities,” Mabey said. “We have nine districts throughout New England, so we contribute to many communities.”
Eastern Propane & Oil organized the Vern & Barbara Clement Memorial Fund, which is supported through Eastern’s Swing Fore Charities golf tournament, which is going on its 18th year this May. Proceeds from the tournament go to local charities and Eastern recently donated $1,000 for the Rochester Warming Center.
“Each year, we donate to homeless shelters, animal shelters, food pantries and other agencies which directly support and help local residents,” Mabey said.
Rick Card, CEO of DF Richard Energy, said his company has supported community fuel assistance programs for at least 30 or 40 years.
“We work with them to help some our customers receive and utilize the fuel assistance funds that are available through CAP,” Card said. “These funds are needed to help CAP clients heat their homes especially in winters such as we have experienced this year. It is important to us that we assist CAP to distribute these needed fuels and aid to their clients.”
In addition to assisting CAP, Card said DF Richard donates the annual heating oil needs of the Homeless Shelter of Strafford County and the propane gas needs for the Dover Children’s Home and well as supporting numerous other nonprofits across the Seacoast.
“The work of the CAP agencies helps countless needy citizens in so many ways other than just administering the fuel assistance programs,” Card said. “They provide meals, education, and support to many of the area’s residents and we are proud to support them.”
The Gift of Warmth solicits donations from residents of the Greater Seacoast to be supplied to Rockingham Community Action and Community Action Partnership of Strafford County. The Gift of Warmth helps area residents who do not meet financial guidelines of other fuel assistance programs that may not take into account factors such as illnesses, recent job losses, a broken furnace or heating sources such as kerosene or wood. Others may be slightly outside strict income limits of federal fuel assistance programs or receive a small amount of government assistance but not enough to get them through the winter.
As part of the effort, several residents who receive assistance share their stories of how the Gift of Warmth helps them.
How to help
Tax-deductible donations can be made by sending a check for any amount to Seacoast Media Group c/o Gift of Warmth, 111 New Hampshire Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801. Please include which organization the donation is intended for: Rockingham Community Action or Community Action Partnership of Strafford County.
To apply for fuel assistance, call RCA at 431-2911. People experiencing any significant hardship and financial crisis can also call the number and they will be referred to the appropriate person. The main office is at 4 Cutts St. in Portsmouth. For more information, visit www.snhs.org.
For CAP of Strafford County, visit www.straffordcap.org or call 435-2500. The Dover office is at 61 Locust St. The Farmington office is at 527 Main St. and its phone number is 460-4313.
The Newmarket Community Church at 137 Main St. will take fuel assistance applications for RCA from local residents, especially the elderly and families without transportation so they don’t have to travel to RCA’s Exeter or Portsmouth locations to apply. Appointments must be made by calling RCA’s Portsmouth office at (603) 436-3896.