Church Finances

Heating bills will soon be rolling in help is available if you need help paying them through the winter. Maine’s Total Coverage is proud to team up with Partners Bank and the United Way of Southern Maine to raise money for Keep ME Warm, which provides emergency heating assistance across Maine.On Tuesday afternoon, groups from both organizations were celebrating the annual Festival of Trees inside the Westbrook Warren Church on Main Street. Some of the money raised will go into the Good Samaritan Fund, which has been available for decades. That fund has grown to about $40,000, and last year, $6,000 was given to families to help pay their fuel bills, said church officials. The Rev. Dr. Leslie Foley said the need has shifted since the pandemic when more people were home and required more heating assistance. These days, families are still struggling with the rising cost of food and other expenses. Foley said families shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. “Stigma is always a thing,” Foley said. “Whenever you need help, it’s kind of always hard to ask, but find help. Go to your General Assistance. So maybe you don’t qualify for LI-HEAP, but maybe you qualify for something else. I just encourage people to ask. There is some good news this year the average cost per gallon of home heating oil is down more than $1. In November 2022, the average price of home heating oil was $5.08 per gallon. In November 2023, the average cost for a gallon of home heating oil was $3.99 per gallon.Still, families are calling the helpline funded by United Ways of Maine, 211-Maine, for assistance. “Last year, specifically related to heating, we had over 16,000 calls,” said Nikki Williams, 211-Maine program director. Williams echoed what Foley said about not being afraid to reach out, noting that every call is confidential. “It’s OK to ask for help. That’s why it’s there and getting help can be a sign of strength,” Williams said. The Good Samaritan Fund is specific to Westbrook, but there are many other programs out there. If you need help paying your fuel bills, you can reach out to your own local town office. Officials recommend starting with General Assistance they should be able to point you in the right direction.