Heatupstlouis.org’s Year-End Donations Down by 50%, Several Area Firms Provide a “Gift of Warmth” For Area Needy

What: Heatupslouis.org, a regional not-for-profit advocacy, public education utility assistance charity covering about 14 Missouri and Illinois counties, including the City of St. Louis announces that its year-end “Gift of Warmth” project is down by 50%. The all-volunteer charity had distributed a record amount of more than $700,000 in grants and donations earlier this fall. All those funds had since been depleted in an effort for many residents to stay ahead of their winter heating bills.

CH2M HILL will present St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, Beth Davis and Reverend Earl E. Nance, a check for $5,000. In addition, Peabody Energy, Home State Health Plan and St. Louis Chapter of IFMA, so far have made substantial donations within the past several weeks. 

Heatupstlouis.org officials are reminding the public to avoid unsafe methods of heating their homes, and encourages them to pay something on their utility bills, to avoid disconnection. In addition, the Missouri side of Heatupstlouis.org’s services area has a Missouri Public Service Cold Weather Rule in effect until March. It prohibits the disconnection of heat-related service when the temperature is predicted to drop below 32 degrees during the following 24-hour period and provides more lenient payment terms permitting reconnection of service for natural gas and/or electric customers, etc.
Heatupstlouis.org officials remind the public that100% of all Heatupstlouis.org public donations go towards servicing seniors, disabled and needy families. All administrative operations are underwritten by the bi-state area, 58-member, all volunteer board of directors.

Donations should be made securely online to: Heatupstlouis.org or drop off donations in any amount to an area (MO/IL) UMB Bank teller; or send a check payment to Heat-Up St. Louis, c/o UMB Bank, P.O. Box 868, St. Louis, MO 63188. For people needing assistance they also can make inquiries through Heatupstlouis.org.  
Heatupstlouis.org predicts it will need another $700,000 before its winter heating program switches over in April, 2017 to Cooldownstlouis.org.