Get Home Heating Help Now: Tri-Cap, United Way, National Grid Team Up to Provide Assistance

With the excessive snowfall and bitter temperatures that have hit New England, this winter has been one of the most trying in recent memory. Couple that with high gas prices and a tough economy and a lot of people are having trouble paying for some basic needs.

The National Grid Foundation and the United Way have started a new program to help homeowners unable to pay to heat their homes. The foundation will match donations to the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley up to $60,000 to help pay heating costs for those in need.

“We wanted to do everything possible to ensure that families don’t have to choose between staying warm and paying other bills this winter,” said National Grid Foundation Board Member Carmen Fields.

The foundation, the charitable arm of National Grid, has a long-standing relationship with the United Way, donating $35,000 over the last two years.  

This past year, the United Way has received over 67,800 calls for aid, the vast majority of these calls requesting heating assistance, prompting the foundation to up their yearly donation to $60,000 and issuing the matching challenge. That amount of money can heat more than 200 homes for an entire month, and will be given to people in need regardless of heating fuel type.

“The National Grid Foundation recognizes, as we do, that helping families through this recession will require support from every level of the community,” said Michael K. Durkin, President of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley.

In Melrose, anti-poverty group Tri-CAP—which is based in Malden and has a Fuel Assistance Program for Melrose and six surrounding communities—is working with the United Way and the National Grid Foundation to administer this aid.

“Often times people come to us after attempting to get help elsewhere,” said Philip Bronder-Giroux, Executive Director of Tri-CAP. “It’s our mission to get these people help.”

If you’re having problems paying your heating bill, getting help is simple: Call the United Way hotline at 211, or call Tri-CAP directly at 781-322-6284 to request assistance.

To help match the $60,000 the National Grid Foundation is donating, go to www.chooseyourimpact.org/NationalGridFoundation to give, advocate, or volunteer.

“Something as little as $20 can keep the a family’s heat on for a day,” said United Way Sr. Director of Communications Meghan Keaney Anderson. “This is a really great way for everyone to get involved.”