Mark A. Sullivan Jr., executive director of Citizens for Citizens, right, accepts a ,000 check for fuel assistance from Barry Ketschke, Dominion Energy Brayton Point Station director. The donation is from the Dominion Foundation. Mark A. Sullivan Jr., executive director of Citizens for Citizens, right, accepts a $10,000 check for fuel assistance from Barry Ketschke, Dominion Energy Brayton Point Station director. The donation is from the Dominion Foundation.

FALL RIVER — Barry Ketschke, director of Dominion Energy’s Brayton Point Station, said that because of the effective work Citizens for Citizens does through so many programs it was chosen by the Dominion Foundation to receive $10,000.

The Somerset plant director called CFC “a great organization” and he recalled how a few years ago took part in Operation Christmas telethon then joined with station personnel in distributing toys to needy families at the Griffin Street office.

“We buy a lot of fuel to run the Somerset plant and we are very aware of the high cost of energy ourselves. Our employees live in the area. This donation from the foundation is to help area residents cope with the high cost of heating their homes.

“CFC is at the forefront of aiding those struggling to get by heat their homes this winter. The donation is our way of thanking CFC for its good work and for us to be part of the community.”
[Read more →]

Tags: Dominion, Donations, Fuel, MarkSullivan by Dan Delisle
Comments Off

Madeline Cormier, seated, program director, along with staff members Kathy Vital, left, and Kim Silvia go through applications for weatherization assistance. Madeline Cormier, seated, program director, along with staff members Kathy Vital, left, and Kim Silvia go through applications for weatherization assistance.

Most Americans were dramatically affected by the 1973 oil crisis with spiraling home heating costs. Low-income families in the colder climates suffered the most severe consequences. Maine state officials along with community action agencies began working with homeowners and renters to seal air leaks in their homes.

Out of this effort, the nation’s first weatherization program was born. Congress created the U.S. Dept of Energy’s (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) in 1976.

Citizens for Citizens began weatherizing homes of low-income families in their service area in that year. Since then, more than 16,000 area homes have been weatherized through the program. The CFC service area includes: Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, Somerset, Swansea, Seekonk, Freetown, Dighton, Westport, Dartmouth, Rehoboth, Berkley, Acushnet, Fairhaven, Lakeville, Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester.
[Read more →]

Tags: Fuel, Spotlight, Weatherization by Dan Delisle
Comments Off

Joe Silvia, director of Citizens for Citizens Heating Assistance Program, reviews the completed project at the home of Kevin Cabral in Somerset. The homeowner said he would not have been able to pay for the project except for the CFC program. Joe Silvia, director of Citizens for Citizens Heating Assistance Program, reviews the completed project at the home of Kevin Cabral in Somerset. The homeowner said he would not have been able to pay for the project except for the CFC program.

FALL RIVER — Over the past 28 years, Citizens for Citizens has serviced 301,471 area clients through its Fuel Assistance Program—spending approximately $175 million in the area to ensure families will be able to pay their home heating bills during the winter months.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) — best known as fuel assistance, provides states with grants to help low income families pay their heating and in some states cooling bills.

It is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Administration for Children and Families. LIHEAP has been in existence for the past 28 years, providing financial assistance for home heating, energy crisis intervention and is the gateway to many other energy related programs, such as weatherization and the heating system repair program.

LIHEAP funds currently help over 5 million households nationwide and approximately, 130,000 households in the state of Massachusetts.
[Read more →]

Tags: Fuel, HeartWAP by Dan Delisle
Comments Off