AMHERST – The Salvation Army is getting another helping hand this year. The province recently announced they will be supplying Salvation Armies with $400,000, through their Good Neighbour Energy fund, to keep needy families warm this winter.
Cpt. Chad Ingram of the Amherst Salvation Army said it’s a welcomed help.
“Clients can find application at the Salvation Army (in Amherst and Springhill) offices,” said Ingram. “Everything they’ll need to send will be on the application and they mail it away and they’re supposed to hear back some word within two weeks.”
Whether or not a family will receive some extra funding is determined by their income, and whether or not they’ve received help from the fund in previous years. If a client was approved to received funding last year, it could mean they will not be approved for more funding this year.
“It’s to make sure they can help everyone,” said Ingram. “If they do need extra help (and they don’t get approved for the energy fund), they will get some form of help from the Salvation Army.”
Ingram said the energy fund has been a great help to the Salvation Army and for the families in previous years.
“Christmas happens to be in the coldest month of the year,” said Ingram. “Even with help through Christmas, at the beginning of January you’re still having to pay extra bills. It’s more important to have a warm house after Christmas. You can live without a toy but not without a warm house.”
Application forms are available online beginning in January at www.salvationarmy.ca/maritime/gnef/ or through Salvation Army churches and thrift stores, as well as through your local MLA offices.
About the Good Neighbour Energy Fund:
-The Good Neighbour Energy Fund helps with all forms of heating including coal, oil propane and electricity. On behalf of the person receiving aid from the fund, the benefit is paid as a credit to an energy supplier’s account.
-Last winter, the Good Neighbour Fund helped over 2,000 low-income families.
-The fund began 15 years ago and was an initiative put forth by Nova Scotia Power employees.
- The funding program runs from January to April.
