This holiday season, Operation Fuel is asking people to give the gift of warmth by making a donation to the nonprofit energy assistance program.
Over 300,000 Connecticut households won’t be able to afford their energy bills this winter. “The holidays are especially difficult for families and individuals who already are struggling to pay for their basic necessities. Operation Fuel is asking people who can afford to do so, to consider making a small donation. The family or individual you help may even be your neighbor,” said Patricia Wrice, Operation Fuel’s Executive Director.
Donations for Operation Fuel can be made online at www.operationfuel.org or mailed to Operation Fuel, 75 Charter Oak Avenue, Suite 2-240, Hartford, CT 06106. Donations also can be made through Operation Fuel’s Add-a-Dollar program, when paying monthly utility bills.
Operation Fuel’s statewide network of fuel banks began taking applications for the winter program on Monday, December 1. Anyone who needs emergency energy assistance should call 211.
Last winter, Operation Fuel gave out more than $2 million in energy assistance to more than 4,200 households. Many of the people helped by Operation Fuel are working families with children and elderly people on a fixed income. As happens every year, the need for energy assistance is expected to significantly exceed the funding that is available for Operation Fuel’s winter program.
“As we receive more money in donations, we will be able to help more families and individuals this winter. Operation Fuel often is their last hope for energy assistance,” said Wrice.
Operation Fuel is a private, nonprofit program that provides emergency energy assistance through its statewide network of fuel banks to lower-income working families, the elderly and disabled individuals who are in financial crisis and not eligible for energy assistance from government-funded programs. For more information, go to www.operationfuel.org