Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 25, 1994 TAG: 9410250091
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"I have a gas bill that I can't pay. They cut it off, and I'm cold," callers to her Salvation Army office in Roanoke would say. "I don't know what I'm going to do."
Blankenship, the organization's family services social worker, found help for them - $54,000 worth - through HeatShare, Roanoke Gas Co.'s emergency heating assistance program administered by the Salvation Army.
In 13 years, HeatShare has helped more than 5,000 families. With an income eligibility guideline about $5,000 more than Social Services guidelines, the program is designed to help families who cannot receive assistance through public resources.
Roanoke Gas officials are concerned that some people who are eligible might be left in the cold this winter for lack of information.
"Our biggest concern is that there may well be people out there in the valley who are not aware of this program and also not aware of other programs to help them," said Robert Glenn, vice president of marketing and strategic planning.
"We want to provide information not only on the HeatShare program, but on all other social services programs that provide energy assistance," Glenn said.
Monday, Glenn announced that Roanoke Gas will begin giving information about HeatShare and other assistance programs to customers when they are contacted about past-due bills.
Customer service representatives not only will work out a payment schedule, but also will ask the customers if they want information about HeatShare or programs offered by other agencies, such as Roanoke Area Ministries, the Presbyterian Community Center and Roanoke-area social service agencies.
"A lot of people may not know about these services, and that's really bothering us," Glenn said. "The elderly customer, for example, may be too proud or unaware. We want to try to make it as easy as possible for them to call someone and ask for help.
"We're hoping if we make that available, that maybe it will help some people take advantage of the program who, for whatever personal reasons, may have chosen not to."
Roanoke Gas on Monday gave the Salvation Army an $8,400 check to begin this year's HeatShare campaign. Next month's Roanoke Gas bills will include a customer donation form. A designated donation can be added to bills through March.
The public also may donate directly to HeatShare through the Salvation Army, 724 Dale Ave. S.E., Roanoke 24013.
"Many families depend on this program for a warm home," said Maj. Dan Delaney, commanding officer of the Salvation Army's Roanoke unit, which served 273 families last winter through HeatShare. "For them, the choice is often, `Do they eat, or do they have heat?'''
by CNB