Help Our Community Get Through a Pioneer Valley Winter

It's become a hard and ugly truth: people simply can’t afford to have an accident, an illness, or any unexpected expense AND pay their bills. With skyrocketing housing and food prices, the economy has changed. It's no longer working for many of us.

Many people who come to us for help have experienced just one tragedy. This month alone, we've received asks for help from:

• a spouse that passed away, leaving a widow on just one social security income
• a family that had to choose between medical bills and the mortgage
• a single dad who couldn't afford the car repair that would get him back to work - and back on track

Many who reach out to us never imagined they’d need to ask for help. But it’s not their fault that our economy is failing a growing number of people each year.

With winter on the horizon, we know that heating bills become a heavy burden for some of our neighbors. We’re grateful for the state and federal funds that let us lift some of that burden for many in our community – over eight thousand families last year.

But not everyone who applies meets the state's strict guidelines that determine who gets help.

We built the Community Heat Up Fund to address this need.This fund pays a portion of the heat bills for people who would otherwise fall through the cracks in the social safety net. Our goal is simple: to ensure that no one has to face the winter chill without the warmth and comfort they deserve.

Sometimes, these funds mean the difference between a warm home and NO home.

Last year, we had our biggest campaign ever, raising over $100K.

Last year, we also saw the biggest need in our history. The funds are about to run out. This year, our goal is $150K.

Our friends at Greenfield Savings Bank have offered our first match challenge: they will match $7500 in donations that come in before Thanksgiving. Can you help us get there?

This is a chance for us to come together and show that we are stronger as a united community. We need your help.