Joining the Reverend Earl E. Nance, Jr., vice chairman of the board of directors to aid the single unemployed mother were St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay, Missouri State Senator Maida Coleman of the Fifth Senatorial District and James H. Buford, president of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.

The all-volunteer energy assistance charity visited the home to help the media put a face to the dramatic need that the unemployed are increasingly joining the ranks of those in need of energy assistance. Heat-Up St. Louis has no staff. An all-volunteer board of directors underwrite all of the administrative costs so that every cent donated goes directly to helping those in need. Heat-Up St. Louis funds fill in or make-up the difference between federal, state, and other funding sources to restore a home heating source.

Heat-Up St. Louis also announced that it has undertaken a major new fundraising strategy. It has established Heat-Up USA, which will be a national concept available for corporate sponsorships. The corporate sponsorships will be developed by the local group.  The license agreement fees will be used for additional sources of income.

Heat-Up St. Louis official also unveiled that its 2002-03 winter campaign “Pass the Buck and Heat-Up St. Louis,” has a 6% fund raising deficit.  It also announced that year to date (2002) the organization has helped a record number of more than 7,500 people with heat grants and referrals. Tax-deductible donations may be made through Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc., c/o UMB Bank, P.O. Box 868 , St. Louis , Missouri , 63188 , or by logging onto its website Heat-Up St. Louis reminds those in need of energy assistance to call its resource hotline at 314-241-7668 which covers numerous Illinois and Missouri counties.

“The weakened economy continues to take its toll on seniors with fixed incomes, the working poor, needy families with small children and today a large number of the unemployed,” said the Reverend Earl E. Nance, Jr., “The region is on a dangerous economic sleigh-ride as people who have never applied for energy assistance are reaching out in fear, because they do not know where their next meals are coming from, and they are wrestling with the rent and high utility bills.”

Heat-Up St. Louis networks with about 11 Missouri and Illinois social service and community action agencies, including the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.  They presented a check of $2,000 to James H. Buford, president of that social service organization, who will select qualify individuals in need of energy assistance this winter.   Heat-Up St. Louis’ supplemental heating grants for the needy includes the restoration of natural gas, electric, propane and home heating oil services, or when a home has received a disconnection notice. The Urban League had run out of funds when a South St. Louis mother of two required assistance.

“We appreciate the good works of Heat-Up St. Louis, in its efforts to ensure that the region’s needy people stay warm and safe during the cold winter months,” said St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay.  “Their all-volunteer efforts as an advocacy and energy assistance charity is critical because government just cannot do it all.”

“We know that being without heat is an urban, suburban and rural community-wide problem,” said Missouri State Senator Maida Coleman. “We also know that part of the issue is affordability and being without heat has become a health and safety issue.” Senator Coleman also spoke for a stronger Cold Weather Rule, in an effort to close loop-holes which give area utilities a chance to disconnect the service of the needy during Indian-summer-like temperatures within the time frame of November through March.

Heat-Up St. Louis is also very disappointed with the Missouri Public Service Commission for not declaring an Emergency so that it could invoke the Emergency Amendment to the Cold Weather Rule.  “Natural gas cost is up, home heating oil cost has increased due to international unrest, and Congress is considering reducing federal energy assistance by about $300 million,” said Gentry W. Trotter, founder of the charity.  “These chain of events clearly indicate an emergency, and would have helped to off-set reductions in private donations.”

The Special Emergency Amendment to the Cold Weather Rule had previously provided an opportunity to spread the payment of a delinquent gas bill over a 18-month period with either an initial $250 payment or 25%, whichever is lesser, through March.

“While we are fortunate to have more than one funding source for utility assistance, all monies that we receive come with a variety of eligibility guidelines and limitations and there are times that people may fall through the cracks,” stated Denise Liebel, county operations director of Northeast Missouri Action Corporation in St. Charles County in a prepared statement.  “Heat-Up St. Louis has given us another resource to fill gaps in service for those that might otherwise go without utilities.  Heat-Up’s campaigns have made a tremendous difference with the low-income families, elderly and disabled of our community, when no other assistance was available to them.”

Heat-Up St. Louis also announced that despite running a 6% fundraising deficit its allocation committee will add the Salvation Army in the City to its contribution lists of networking social service agencies.  “We are also looking at several other community organizations throughout the region to make sure that we target every inch of the St. Louis region where there are people in need,” said Trotter, who also serves as the chairman of the allocation committee for Heat-Up St. Louis.

“We are fortunate to have a stop-gap agency like Heat-Up St. Louis in the region as many of the people who qualify for energy assistance may not always get the needed funds to keep their energy sources on,” said Joe Hubbard, executive director of Catholic Urban Programs of Southern Illinois. “We were able to help hundreds of people with the funds from Heat-Up.”

Heat-Up St. Louis, a non-utility charity has a grass-roots approach to energy assistance, from engaging the general public with special fundraising events to creating awareness programs regarding unsafe and unhealthy living conditions the needy face when they are not able to heat their homes.

“People want to do more and give more to help their neighbors by going beyond checking-off an item on their local utility bills,” said the Reverend Nance, Jr.  “We want to engage the public, including protecting the rights of the needy against unreasonable utility rate hikes.”

The social service and community action agencies receiving supplementary heat grants throughout the course of the winter are: Northeast Community Action Corporation in St. Charles County; Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc., in St. Louis City and County, and St. Clair County in Illinois; S.T.E.P., Inc., in St. Louis County; Catholic Urban Programs of Southern Illinois; Loving Hearts in Washington County; Jefferson County Catholic Community Services; East Missouri Action Agency in St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Iron and Madison Counties; Urban League of Madison County in Illinois; and South Central Missouri Economic Opportunity Corporation in Butler County, etc.

“The clients we serve at the Urban League throughout the metropolitan area depend on us for utility assistance,” said James H. Buford, president of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.  “We are grateful that Heat-Up St. Louis is our partner in assisting families.”

For Media Information Contact:
Tom Gorline or Gentry W. Trotter
314-749-0224 (Media Use ONLY)

Missouri Public Service Commission Formal Hearing
November 18, 2002, 12 Noon
Room 116, Wainwright State Office Building

Laclede Gas’ Catch-Up/Keep-Up Program Will Raise Rates for All Ratepayers

It certainly is a privilege to be back here before the Missouri Public Service Commission. Our last appearance, as a regional energy assistance and advocacy charity, was to oppose the $36.1 million non-gas rate hike for Laclede Gas.  The increase would have produced significant hardships for the working poor, the elderly and needy families with small children.

We appreciate the dedication by the PSC staff and the Commission in further negotiating with Laclede Gas, which ended with about a $14 million increase. Although still a burden, ratepayers in the Eastern part of Missouri did get some relief.

Today, we are here to pick-up where our chairman, J. Kim Tucci spoke at the previous hearing. We have heard that there have been some slight changes in an effort to help the gas ratepayers digest the Laclede Gas “Catch-Up/Keep Up” program.  Even with the removal of the proposed 10%  from Laclede Gas’ profit the revised program still is hard to swallow. The revised proposal appears to be shrouded in a sincere attempt to help eligible, low-income customers, through financial assistance.

Unfortunately, the Laclede Gas “Catch-Up/Keep Up” program may hurt the same people it claims it wishes to help.  Laclede Gas proposes to fund this program in part with pipeline discounts it receives.  Those discounts are currently being enjoyed by all of Laclede’s ratepayers. The current proposal is an unfortunate situation which has pitted us against them.  Us being many hard-working class folk, including those, who are swimming up stream in an effort to make payment on their car,  rent, or mortgage bills during a very challenging time in our economy.

Them: low-income customers, who are still making choices between just the basics in life — heating or eating; or heating or high prescription drug bills.  These individuals, along with us, are already facing a potential increase of upwards to 17-20%  in our natural gas bills this winter.  If you add the $10.00 annual rate increase with the Catch-Up/Keep-Up Program, which is  the estimated savings of the pipeline discount fees, there will be a significant increase to our over all gas bills this coming winter.  And if the PSC approves Laclede’s Catch-up/Keep-Up program proposal, at the same time, its  refusal to invoke the Emergency Amendment  the Cold Weather Rule, will not provide enough financial relief to many of us who do not qualify for the Catch-Up/Keep-Up Program.

Most of these needy customers just cannot afford high natural gas costs each month, period.  Laclede’s program does not wipe away the financial burden of their needy customers, and it should. Compassion over profits must be one alternative. And if Laclede is truly compassionate about the needy neighbors, they need to use some of those profits to wipe totally clean millions of dollars in arrearages.  It is clear to Heat-Up St. Louis, that many of those needy families will not be able to catch up. The program punishes those needy neighbors by canceling them from the program when they cannot afford to stay caught-up.

Laclede Gas says that under extenuating circumstances, it will reinstate needy families who fall behind.  However, their proposal does not spell out what the extenuating circumstances are, and to ensure that a program protects the needy, the PSC has a responsibility to enforce the fine print. 

What happens the rest of us, when we are asked to give monthly to the Laclede Gas Dollar-Help program which is on a volunteer basis? This program and others like it are a great volunteer effort to help our needy neighbors.  Laclede does a modest matching funds program with Dollar-Help. So, why not put some significant bucks into its Catch-Up/Keep-Up program?

Laclede wishes to take away our 30% pipeline discount savings, causing havoc for many lower and middle income households, whose income levels do not qualify them for a Catch-up/Keep up program. In the end Laclede will profit from the program, no one else, as the program only deals with its gas customers. The Missouri Public Service Commission can ill-afford to have an image of supporting corporate welfare, and that’s what the Catch-Up/Keep-Up program appears to be.

Using our pipeline savings is a very dangerous alternative. When you take 30% out of the equation, it will force an increase of 30% for all customers, including the needy families who Laclede Gas is truly attempting to help. Someone has to make-up that difference. There is no mechanism which protects these needy families who enlist in this program from the 30% which will rebound back as an increase on their monthly gas bills.  Many needy households will barely be able to pay their arrearages.

The bottomline is that Laclede needs to wipe clean 100% of the arrearages of its low-income customers by using its profits, or create a yearly special discount rate for seniors, the disabled and needy families who find natural gas not affordable.  These are two great compassionate programs, and they will not cause the unfair appearance of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Thank you for the opportunity for us to come before you.  And at this time, I would prefer that all questions, if there are any, will be deferred to our president, Gentry W. Trotter, as he is to be sworn in next.

Statement from Reverend Earl E. Nance, Jr.
Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, Heat-Up St. Louis

While we are very concerned about the anticipated increase of natural gas prices this winter, the timing of this small non-gas hike will make the difference between the needy affording their high prescription drugs, or heating and eating.  This small rate hike gives some temporary relief for those working class and needy households struggling with their very tight budgets. We believe the Missouri Public Service Commission took a very hard look at the initial $36.1 million increase and they responded to public comment.  The typical residential heating customer will now only face an increase of about $1.80 per month and this is far more livable that $4.40.  There is still much work to be done in keeping a cap on administrative and natural gas costs, because as the utility companies’earnings climb they always succeed on the backs of the needy and working class people.  We pray that there are no more significant natural gas, or non-gas rate increases in this St. Louis region for a long time to come.

Heat-Up St. Louis, a regional non-profit energy assistance and advocacy charity opposed the original non-gas rate hike and testified before the Missouri Public Service Commission.

Dear Mr. Mueller

So, far it has been a very hot and frustrating summer for many needy families and in some cases, seniors have succumbed to the horror of being without air-conditioning. For the past several months, Cool Down St. Louis, a regional cooling assistance charity, has been providing various resources, including paying electric bills and aid to many bi-state area seniors, disabled and needy families with small critically-ill children. We are currently in the midst of our public awareness program, “Be A Good Neighbor…Check On Your Neighbors” in an effort to reduce heat-related deaths and illnesses.

Our Resource Hotline is manned by volunteers from our board in an ongoing effort to counsel and give direction to many of our neighbors in Missouri and Illinois. At this time, we have serious concerns with Ameren and wish to give you time to respond to this concerns, hopefully in an immediate manner through the positive action of your customer service representatives.

We have received hundreds of calls on our resource hotline and the majority of these calls (99.5%) claim that:

Ameren makes no attempt to volunteer information regarding energy assistance through its Dollar-More program.

While Ameren advertises in the print and electronic media asking rate-payers to sign-up, there is no attempt to educate the public as to where they may apply for Dollar-More funds.  The Ameren customer service department appears to be inconsistent and inflexible in providing helpful information to its rate-payers.

In at least twenty-five cases, it was obvious that the rate-payer had attempted to make arrangements for payments and the Ameren customer service department became aggressive and refused to help.  We referred many of these cases to the Missouri Public Service Commission for assistance.

The advocacy arm of Cool Down St. Louis supports the need to have a hot-weather rule which would prohibit electric companies from cutting off utilities to its needy rate-payers.   Ameren should make every effort to implement and practice some sort of compassionate outreach program to ensure that electricity is affordable for its needy customer base.  Ameren should assist these customers and provide enough alternatives to ensure that they do not have to face life and death situations because of their inability to pay or receive immediate assistance.

Many of your rate-payers call us in a panic, and all too often they do not necessarily read the fine print on their disconnection notices. Ameren has a moral and public obligation to make it easy and simple for these needy rate-payers to obtain assistance.

We urge you to establish a comprehensive “workable” plan of public awareness for energy assistance this summer.  If you continue to request through advertising, that your rate-payers “sign up” on the Dollar-More program, it is imperative that every Ameren customer service employee also be able to articulate a resource for cooling assistance for those being shut-off or threatened.

Sincerely,

1. Kim Tucci
   J. Kim Tucci
   Chairman of the Board of Directors
   Cool Down St. Louis

Earl E. Nance, Jr.
Reverend Earl E. Nance, Jr.
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
Cool Down St. Louis

  cc: Missouri Public Service Commission and Missouri Office of Public Counsel

“We believe that the Missouri Public Service Commission should take a closer look at that gift horse,” says J. Kim Tucci, Chairman of the board of directors for Heat-Up St. Louis.  “This proposed program is funded in no way by the stockholders. In fact the program would put hundreds of thousands of dollars into Laclede Gas pockets which would not flow to ratepayers.” Tucci will present his testimony before the Commission, when it is scheduled. However, he will inform the PSC Commissioners in person of his intent on Wednesday, August 14 at the public hearing in the City of St. Louis.

Heat-Up St. Louis officials believe that the actual people that Laclede Gas are “attempting” to help, along with other ratepayers, will eventually be hurt by the withdrawal of that 30% that they are proposing to use from pipeline discounts. When utility prices escalate, and they do each winter, ratepayers will automatically lose that 30% buffer.  If the Missouri Public Service Commission approves the current Catch-Up/Keep-Up Program then it will definitely reduce savings for all of the ratepayers by 30%.

“The proposed Laclede Gas program needs to be re-worked to include significant dollars from the stockholders as they are quite charitable with our pipeline discounts,” says Tucci. “We support energy forgiveness programs by all utilities,” says Tucci. “But we encourage the Laclede stockholder to become a major player of the ‘Catch-Up/Keep-Up’ plan.”

What Laclede Gas wants to do is take a portion of what is primarily pipeline discounts of $18 million from its suppliers, and use 30% of that to refuel their profits. And the ratepayers currently have a choice to give to utilities’ charities and that is on a volunteer basis.

Currently all ratepayers are enjoying the entire $18 million dollar pass through.  The significant pipeline discounts are helping to reduce the costs of all ratepayers’ natural gas bills.  What Laclede wants to do is take 20% percent and give it to their Laclede Gas Dollar-Help charity and wall-off these monies to only gas customers in need.  This means that needy families with electric, heating oil, and propane, might not be eligible.

“Further, Laclede has taken a bold step by requesting that 10% of that 30% goes back into its profit line as a reward for negotiating those significant pipeline discounts,” says Tucci. “Laclede Gas management is already being paid to do this.”

There are better alternatives: One would be to establish at its expense a special gas utility rate for the elderly, disabled and low-income people, Laclede and the ratepayers will save significantly.  The other would be to increase its annual donation from about  $48,000 of matching funds to Dollar-Help, Inc., to a direct cash donation of $2 million annually and continue to open up the process to all home energy sources to ensure that no one slips through the cracks.

“Laclede Gas proudly boast that no legislation is necessary since ratepayer dollars are not involved, and we beg to differ,” says Tucci. “The ratepayers’ significant pipeline discounts of 30% directly impacts everyone with natural gas service.”

Laclede Gas needs to turn off their switch of greed and turn on the switch of compassion.  They need to give the ratepayer the opportunity to determine if he or she can afford to use these pipeline discounts to help put their children through college, pay their high air-conditioning bills from the previous summer; or pay their rent or mortgage on time each month.

The efforts unveiled included the development and distribution of more than 100,000 Cooling Assistance cards co-sponsored by the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition. The “Be A Good Neighbor…Check On Your Neighbors” cards provide safety and health tips, in addition to educating the elderly, disabled and needy families with critically-ill children on how to get cooling assistance; the announcement of a major donation of 100 air-conditioners by a North St. Louis County apartment complex; and a radio and television public service campaign.  Hardee’s Restaurants and The Pasta House Co. officials were also on hand to make donations toward the purchase of additional air-conditioners.  In addition, several needy families also received Cool Down funds for their electric bills and brand new air-conditioners.

More than1,700 area congregations will soon receive these cooling assistance cards, and there is a place for the parishioner to leave his or her name and telephone number to stay in contact with those in need of utility assistance, an air-conditioner or a cooling grant to help pay for their disconnected or threatened electric bills. In addition, by the end of the week, a total of about 175 locations of Hardee’s Restaurants, Schnucks Supermarkets and UMB Bank centers will have available these “Check On Your Neighbor” cards for their customers.

“The church is the first line of defense in fighting life-threatening health and safety issues,” said Reverend Earl E. Nance, Jr., president of the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition, and vice chairman of the board of director for Cool Down St. Louis.  “The electric companies continue to show no mercy, thus pushing the needy into a deep mental and physical devastation pit of hopelessness, and this has proven to be deadly. And some seniors refuse to turn on their air-conditioners.”

During the press conference, Cool Down St. Louis officials also called on area elected officials and the public utility commissions to give the needy utility customers some immediate relief, by reducing their bills, or extending their payments. Tax-deductible donations can be made to Cool Down St. Louis, c/o UMB Bank, P.O. Box 868, St. Louis, MO 63188 or on line at   http://www.cooldownstlouis.org.

Representatives also in attendance at the press conference were Dr. Jacquelyn Meeks, director of St. Louis County Health Department; Jim Buford, president of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis; Denise Liebel, director of Northeast Community Action Agency in St. Charles County; Larry Brayman, director of corporate affairs for Hardee’s Food Systems, and Merline Anderson, executive director of STEP, Inc.

More than 100 employees of UMB Bank, Hardee’s and the Pasta House Co. volunteered to accept donations from St. Louis Cardinals fans.  The volunteers were clad in special yellow T-shirts, bearing a number “57” on their left sleeves.

Due to the consistently hot weather this week, UMB Bank also announced that it has extended the “Shake Our Cans” campaign at 19 of its bank centers located in Missouri and Illinois, so that its banking customers, and the general public can continue to drop-off tax-deductible donations through Tuesday, July 9.  Originally the bank had extended the program until this Friday.

“It is a myth that people in the summer time are not greatly impacted as much as those in the winter,” said Earl E. Nance, Jr., vice chairman of the Cool Down St. Louis. “This is far from the truth, because more people die of heat related illness, due to heavy heat being generated by the hot summer sun. Heat is far more deadly.” Cool Down St. Louis officials also noted that there are fewer cooling assistance funding sources in the area, and request that people continue to check on their neighbors and that the needy continue to negotiate with their local electric company.

For those who did not attend the Cardinals games this past weekend, they may send a tax-deductible donation to Cool Down St. Louis, c/o UMB Bank, P.O. Box 868, St. Louis, MO 63188, or donate by charge card through its website at

“We are pleased that the St. Louis Cardinals fans have come out to support our efforts of helping to avoid heat-related deaths and illnesses,” said Reverend Earl E. Nance, Jr.  “The need is tremendous and we hope people continue to give all summer long in the entire St. Louis region.”

More than 100 employees of UMB Bank, Hardee’s and the Pasta House Co. will volunteer to accept donations from St. Louis Cardinals fans.  The volunteers will be clad in special yellow T-shirts, bearing a number “57” on the left shelves, collecting tax-deductible cash or check donations in huge cans.  Reverend Earl E. Nance, Jr., vice chairman of Cool Down St. Louis announced this past weekend that the cooling assistance program had only $200 in the bank.

In addition, Hardee’s Food Systems, Inc., announced that its two franchise restaurants in-stadium will donate the entire sales proceeds of their french fries orders at $2.50, each  to Cool Down St. Louis in honor of Darryl Kile.

The UMB Bank has also announced that it will begin collecting donations from its customers, through  its “Shake Our Cans” campaign beginning on Friday, June 28 for a one week period.  UMB Bank has19 locations in Missouri and Illinois. Banking customers will be able to drop-off tax-deductible donations into huge canisters on display at each bank center.

The St. Louis Cardinals are cooperating with the cooling assistance charity, since the late Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile served as its summer honorary chairperson last year, and had made a commitment to work with Cool Down St. Louis again this year, according to the Reverend Earl E. Nance, Jr., vice chairman of the board of directors of Cool Down St. Louis, the cooling program of Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc.

“Mr. Kile had a charitable soul and a concern  for helping those without air-conditioning,”said Nance. “His sudden death is a devastation to us all, and he aided us in raising more than $30,000 last summer with efforts like Cool Down St. Louis at Busch. This year we will do it in his honor.”

Although the St. Louis Cardinals have held official memorials on behalf of Mr. Kile, Cool Down St. Louis officials will ask the Cardinals to let Reverend Nance provide special remarks regarding Darryl Kile’s support of the cooling assistance program, during the on-field ceremony scheduled for Friday, at about 6:30 p.m.

For those not attending either Cardinals games this weekend, they may send a tax-deductible donation to Cool Down St. Louis, c/o UMB Bank, P.O. Box 868, St. Louis, MO 63188, or donate by charge card through its website at  www.cooldownstlouis.org.

The funds will be distributed during the month of May in Missouri and Illinois to about 10 social service and community action agencies. Late in the winter of this year, The Pasta House Co. customers and the public were encouraged to drop off $1.00 and receive a flame and have their names posted within the restaurants in Missouri and Illinois.

Heat-Up St. Louis chairman, J. Kim Tucci; Reverend Earl E. Nance, campaign chair and other officials recently gathered at the Pasta House Co. restaurant in the Central Westend to serve up the cash donations as waiters to some representatives from Missouri and Illinois social service and community action agencies, who qualify those in needy of energy assistance.

“We are fortunate to have had an early spring, but that doesn’t mean people are not in need of assistance,right down,” said J. Kim Tucci, also president and co-owner of The Pasta House Co.” Many people are still without gas and electric, because they were not able to keep up with their high bills this past winter.”

Heat-Up St. Louis acts as a regional safety net for some social service and community action agencies who are low on funds as federal and state funding sources have run out. For many still in need of assistance during the month of May, they should call the Heat-Up St. Louis referral hotline at 314-241-7668. The charity will provide a resource in that needy person’s geographic area.

“For some of the elderly and low-income families, these funds help them to make the decision between eating and heating less difficult,” said Joe Hubbard, executive director for Catholic Urban Programs of Southern Illinois. “This gives people a boost by giving them a chance to keep their utilities on or turn them back on.”

On Valentine’s Day, February 14, more than eighty company and franchised-owned Hardee’s Restaurants in the Illinois and Missouri area sold about 20,000 Sausage and Egg Biscuit sandwiches for the special price of $1.00. In addition 300 volunteers from the media, civic, business, and fraternal communities served as celebrity counter helpers, soliciting an additional $5,700 in small cash donations from Hardee’s customers.

Hardee’s also underwrote all administrative costs of this project, so that each dollar donated goes directly to helping needy families in Missouri and Illinois. The organization also announced that it will continue to take winter donations through April 30. Larger donations may continue to be given by logging onto the donated www.heatupstlouis.org website. In addition tax-deductible donations through checks maybe sent to Heat-Up St. Louis, C/O Truman Bank, P. O. Box 9330, St. Louis, MO 63117.

“Despite the consistently warm winter weather, homes have burned down and children have died due to a lack of safe home heating environments, said Gentry W. Trotter, founder and president of the 20 member, all-volunteer board of directors. “These funds are needed immediately to aid area neighbors, who are still held hostages by unreasonable bills from the local utility companies.”

These Rise and Shine funds and the $8,000 additional funds collected from the Schnucks Scan and Give fundraiser, sponsored by Fox2, will immediately aid about 650 people through emergency heat grants which will be distributed to ten social service and community agencies covering about 15 Missouri and Illinois counties.

“Many social service and community action agencies may run out of state and federal funds by the end of this month. The weaken economy has also made it really difficulty for the working poor to play catch up,” said Reverend Earl E. Nance, Jr., campaign chairperson. “So the need for this $33,000 is greater than ever, because it may be one of the only alternatives of funding available.”