FINAL: Hardee’s 19th Annual Rise & Shine for Heat Benefit for Heatupstlouis.org Hit a Record High of $570,000 – A 90% Increase Over Last Year

With the threat of a winter storm in the St. Louis Metropolitan and with diving temperatures, it didn’t discourage almost 700 hundred volunteers, who served as greeters for the 19th Annual Hardee’s Rise & Shine for Heat Benefit, Friday. It also didn’t stop the generosity of hundreds from purchasing sausage biscuits and egg biscuits for $1; and giving something extra to volunteers.

With the results from some of the 55 area MO/IL Hardee’s reporting in, along with online donations and pledges, the bi-state area utility assistance and advocacy charity raised so far, more than $570,000.00, 90% more than the winter of 2018, which was about $406,000.00.

“We are excited about the generosity of the public and our effective St. Louis media, and partners Hardee’s, Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois, and many of our social service partners and area political, business and religious leaders and first-responders, “ said chair emeritus Rev. Earl E. Nance, Jr. of Heatupstlouis.org. “It’s clear people are hurting and need help with their high utilities, and the public again responded.” Heatupstlouis.org funds are used to reconnect or stop disconnections of homes using natural gas, propane, home heating oil and electric, as primary heating sources.

Heatupstlouis.org expressed the seriousness of avoiding unsafe method of using space heaters, as primary heating sources, and encourages needy households, senior and the physically disabled to get help by logging onto Heatupstlouis.org. The same place for donations.

Hardee’s will continue all weekend through Monday with a special canister collection only. This year, Heatupstlouis.org worked with Hardee’s to also have canister collections two weeks prior to today’s special offerings. It also gave area organizations and companies a chance to pre-order large qualities, prior to today.

Since, its inception 19 years ago, Heatupstlouis.org has impacted the lives of more than 525,000 people, in about 34 Missouri and Illinois counties and the City of St. Louis. The charity operates by an all-volunteer board of directors, where 100% of public donations, including Rise & Shine funds go strictly towards servicing the needy in Missouri and Illinois. The board underwrites all administrative costs to keep the charity operating.