Imagine not being able to afford heat for your family for the winter.
Unfortunately, that’s the reality for an estimated 290,000 people living in Maryland. “We’ve seen about a 30 percent increase in need and requests for help this year,” said Mary Ellen Vanni, executive director of the Fuel Fund of Maryland.
The Fuel Fund serves residents in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties. The average family assisted has an annual income of $13,000 for a family of three.
The Fuel Fund requires the clients to pay a portion of their bill, with the remainder being taken care of by Fuel Fund dollars and matching utility credits provided by Baltimore Gas and Electric ratepayers.
The organization recently began its 2008 Donor Envelope Campaign, naming former Gov. William Donald Schaefer as the official spokesman. Schaefer’s history with the Fuel Fund is significant — as mayor of Baltimore, he was among the first leaders to promote the Fuel Fund during its inception.
“One major consequence of the economic downturn is its effect on working families’ ability to pay for their fuel costs,” Schaefer said in a statement.
The campaign offers a convenient way for customers to contribute to the Fuel Fund by sending extra money in an addressed envelope included with their December and January utility bills.
For every $2 paid by the customer providing assistance, BGE contributes $1 in customer-funded bill credits.
For those who have never contributed to the Fuel Fund, now is as good a time as ever to start.
“A lot of folks just need help through this time. If we can get them through the holidays, I think they will have a lot more hope,” Vanni said.
