From Eblen Charities:

Eblen Charities Prepares to Make Sure No One is Left Out in the Cold

Winter arrived early this year, providing us with a beautiful and surprising snowfall. But snow and the cold weather that precedes it are not a welcome sight to everyone.

This year has already seen an increased number of children, adults, and their families calling upon the Eblen Charities to keep warm.

Even though we have begun to provide heating assistance, our main heating assistance program in partnership with the Buncombe County Department of Social Services began this Tuesday, November 1.

The Crisis Intervention Program, a federal utility assistance program, which Eblen Charities helps oversee, will open its doors to make the first strike against the coming cold weather to help

families in need of heating assistance. Last year we assisted nearly 500 families in the first week of heating assistance, providing warmth to more than 2,000 children, adults, and families.

“Buncombe County DSS greatly appreciates our partnership with Eblen Charities through our Crisis Intervention Program. We are working together to assure that the citizens of Buncombe County applying for Crisis Intervention Program services receive the heating assistance they need,” states Mandy Stone, Assistant Buncombe County Manager and Director of Buncombe County DSS.

“As in the past few years, we are not going to wait until cold weather arrives to begin reaching out to those who come to us for help. We are making sure that our families are taken care of before winter arrives. Families are working so hard this year to care for themselves in this difficult economy, but many still need some help. That is why we are here,” adds Sonya Greck, Board Chair of Eblen Charities.

During the past four years the Eblen Heating Assistance provided nearly 70% of the area’s Crisis Intervention Program funds, and provided heating and utility assistance to nearly 7,000 families last year alone.

In partnership with Biltmore Oil Company and cooperation with other oil distributors, Progress Energy and Public Service Gas Company, the Eblen Energy Project provides much needed assistance to families in need throughout the year.

By providing heating oil and assistance with funding for gas and electric bills, we can help ensure that our neighbors are not left out in the cold or have to choose between keeping their lights on and other necessities.

Since its inception, the Eblen Energy Project has delivered hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil, natural gas, and assisted with electric bills to families in our community living with illnesses and disabilities.

In addition to the Crisis Intervention Program, heating and utility assistance is also provided through additional partnerships with Buncombe County DSS with the Emergency Assistance Program, FEMA, and the Energy Neighbors Program in partnership with Progress Energy. Energy Neighbors is a unique program developed by Progress Energy which provides utility assistance to low income families in North and South Carolina.

Since its origin in 1982, Energy Neighbors has provided more than $13 million to more than 110,000 families needing heating assistance. Employee and customer campaigns help raise funds for Energy Neighbors each fall, and the Progress Energy Foundation provides $250,000 in matching funds.

If you would like to join us in keeping the many children, adults, and their families warm this winter or know of anyone who may be in need of heating assistance, please contact Eblen Charities at 828-255-3066 or via email at eblenfound@aol.com.