A donation from the Melrose Rotary Club brought the total of the Emergency Fund to almost $18,000 this week.

As they have in previous years, the members of Melrose Rotary voted to donate $3,000 to the fund to be used for fuel oil.

“Melrose Rotary has been a solid partner for the Emergency Fund over the years,” said Mayor Rob Dolan. “In a time of increasing oil prices and decreasing government aid, we rely on their donation each year to bridge the gap for families who otherwise might have to choose between heat and food.”

“We are happy to be able to help the Emergency Fund with its important mission,” said Jim Halligan, president of Melrose Rotary, “and to make a substantial contribution toward the mayor’s goal of ensuring that no family will go cold or hungry in Melrose this year.”

The purpose of the fund is to provide one-time help to Melrose residents experiencing financial emergencies. In the past three years, the fund has offered one-time help over 400 Melrose families. Most of the help the fund provides is basic needs—food, fuel, and utilities. Every penny of every donation goes directly to aid, with no administrative costs, and the fund administrator makes referrals to other local agencies if needed.

Watch for the Emergency Fund holiday special, featuring Mayor Dolan and other City Hall staff, which will be running frequently throughout the month of December on MMTV. 

Recent donors to the Emergency Fund include

To make a donation, send a check to Melrose Emergency Fund, Mayor’s Office, 562 Main St., Melrose, MA 02176 or bring it directly to the Mayor’s Office on the second floor of City Hall. Checks should be made out to the City of Melrose, with “Melrose Emergency Fund” in the memo line. For more information about the fund, call 781-979-4440.