All money raised during the Gift of Warmth campaign goes directly to the Rockingham and Strafford County community action programs to help our neighbors in need with heating fuel and to respond to other winter emergencies. Unlike federal fuel assistance, these funds come with no strings attached. Community action can apply the money quickly and where it is most needed without having to clear bureaucratic hurdles or untangle red tape.
John Moynihan, chief advancement officer for Community Action Partnership of Strafford County said the volume of applications the agency is seeing this fuel season is unprecedented. Rising energy costs, stagnant wages, and ongoing economic uncertainty continue to worsen an already under-recognized crisis for a community struggling to get by. Moynihan said every month, their clients face impossible choices: Do we buy groceries? Do we pay rent? Do we keep the lights and heat on? Thanks to the Gift of Warmth, we can still step in to provide relief, ensuring a warm and safe winter for these families.
Behind this critical work is a small but dedicated team, spending countless hours collaborating with clients, utility providers, and government officials to address the growing needs of the community, Moynihan said. We have had unusually warm weather to start this year and with the cold weather approaching, the demand for assistance will certainly increase.
Gilbert said the fuel assistance benefits have gone down slightly this year from last year, however the numbers show that the need for assistance has increased. Funding from Gift of Warmth serves as that resource to help extend that heating assistance to allow those families to remain safe and warm through those difficult times. For Seacoast Media Group's journalists, helping Seacoast residents through the Gift of Warmth is a hightpoint of the year.
This is truly one of the best things we do each year and we are thrilled to launch the Gift of Warmth campaign today. To apply for fuel assistance, call Rockingham Community Action at People experiencing any significant hardship or financial crisis can also call and they will be referred to the appropriate person.
