CVPS begins Shareheat campaign months early, commits $100,000 to match incoming donations
RUTLAND, Vt. - With Vermonters facing record fuel costs and increasing inflation across the board, Central Vermont Public Service has kicked off its annual Shareheat campaign five months earlier than usual. The company announced it will commit $100,000 in matching funds for incoming donations, the largest sum CVPS has ever donated in Shareheat's 21 years.
"With fuel prices skyrocketing, many Vermonters will face unprecedented problems this coming winter," CVPS President Bob Young said. "We are committing $100,000 to Shareheat, because this program is more important than ever before. We urge anyone in a position to help to make a donation today to CVPS Shareheat so together we can ensure no one goes cold. Your donation will be matched dollar for dollar until all matching funds are exhausted.
"Normally we don't kick off the Shareheat campaign until November, but we fear a grave situation, and we're hoping many potential donors will be in a better position to help now than during the fall and winter," Young said.
Last fall, CVPS created the Shareheat Business Partnership to enhance its matching funds program and encourage more donations to the program. Vermont businesses contributed $37,000 to make donating to Shareheat more attractive to individual donors last year. Including $60,000 from CVPS shareholders, Shareheat Business Partnership funds and individual donations, Shareheat raised $203,000 during the 2007-2008 heating season.
This season, Omya has already pledged $10,000 for the Shareheat Business Partnership. Program coordinator Ann Warrell said CVPS is looking for other major businesses to help out for the 2008-2009 season. All funds from Shareheat Business partners will be used to boost the $100,000 base of matching dollars from CVPS.
"Last year's success demonstrates that Shareheat works best when the community is involved. With community businesses partnering to match the donations of individuals, we will help thousands of Vermonters who will struggle to provide the bare necessities for their families- housing, heat, food, and medical care," Warrell said.
Every dollar that is donated to Shareheat goes directly to heating assistance through the five community action agencies operating within the CVPS service territory, which covers two-thirds of the state. Each donation is directed back to the donor's community, so their contribution helps their neighbors. Matching dollars are applied on a first-come, first-served basis.
Christie Harris, external affairs manager at Omya, urged other businesses to join Omya as partners in support of Shareheat. "Through the Shareheat program, the business community in Vermont has an opportunity to give back in a meaningful way - neighbors taking care of neighbors," Harris said. "Businesses that are in a position to do so must show leadership during this critical time."
"Rising fuel prices will make it difficult for everyone to afford heat this year, especially low wage earners and those living on fixed incomes," said Elizabeth Eddy, community services and outreach program manager at BROC. "More people will need assistance this season, many of them new clients who have never asked for help before."
Tim Searles, executive director of Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, said he'd never seen such uncertainty in his 25 years in social services. "It used to be primarily the unemployed who needed help," Searles said. "Then it was the elderly and the working poor. Now we're seeing people with solid middle incomes who are facing enormous increases in fuel costs, health care costs and housing costs, and having trouble paying their bills."
Contributions to Shareheat should be mailed to: CVPS Shareheat Fund, 77 Grove Street, Rutland, Vt. 05701. Checks should be made payable to the CVPS Shareheat Fund, and should be written out separately from CVPS bill payments.