HOULTON, Maine – The sound is synonymous with the holiday season – a soft, high-pitched clink that permeates parking lots and storefronts this time of year.
It’s the sound of a small bell rung by Salvation Army volunteers during the annual Red Kettle campaign, which raises money to help people pay for fuel and utilities during the winter.
But this year, that aid does not go far enough.
Soaring heating oil prices and rising electricity costs have many wondering how they will be able to heat their homes this season. This question also weighs heavily on the mind of Houlton Salvation Army envoy Pastor Frank Nataluk.
“Oil prices are of great concern to us right now,” Nataluk said. “We see the Lord blessing us with warmer weather so far, but we are still getting regular calls from people asking for help.”
Requests for assistance seem to focus specifically on heating and electricity costs, and more than in previous years. And the help the Salvation Army is able to provide just doesn’t go as far as it did a year ago.
At current oil prices, the Salvation Army has only been able to allocate 50 gallons of fuel oil to families at a time, which doesn’t go very far. At nearly $6 a gallon, even that small amount is about $300 per family, double what they paid for so much oil last year.
Nataluk said that in some cases he has offered to buy energy efficient electric heaters for families instead of oil, as heaters can provide heat at a reasonable price in the greater Houlton area.
“A lot of the people we see asking for help are those in between,” he said. “These are people we commonly call the working poor. These are people who are trying their best to make ends meet but just can’t make it. Right now they say they don’t know how they’re going to get through the winter.
That’s where the money donated to the Salvation Army Red Kettles comes in. The Red Kettle campaign, which traditionally runs from the week before Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve, has a focus in the county of Aroostook this year by $55,000, the same as he set himself last year. Last season, the Salvation Army raised approximately $58,000 through its kettles.
Although people think the Red Kettle campaign still raises money for Christmas gifts, donations are used these days to help people pay their fuel and utility bills. Helping families who can’t afford Christmas gifts comes through ‘angel trees’, which are decorated with tags indicating the wishes or needs of children and adults, such as a new coat or a bicycle. These trees can be found at Marden’s and Walmart stores in Aroostook County.
But the need is not just in Aroostook. The Salvation Army of Greater Bangor is also affected by an increase in requests.
“The Salvation Army of Greater Bangor is committed to providing service and love to those in need this Christmas and beyond, especially at a time when 61% of Americans – approximately 157 million ‘adults – live paycheck and even more are battling inflation which is up 8.3 percent from last year, with increases looming,’ said Maj. Stephanie Thompson of the Bangor branch.
Plus, the Salvation Army isn’t immune to rising costs, she said, citing increases in utility costs of 49% in Maine, with another 40% increase. % expected in Bangor. Spending on sheltering and feeding the most vulnerable has increased due to inflation and supply chain issues, she said.
This season alone, the Bangor Salvation Army provided five nights of accommodation for homeless people and $17,000 in rent and utility assistance in addition to 3,500 meals.
Besides donations, the Salvation Army also lacks enough volunteers to staff the Red Kettle program in Aroostook County, Nataluk said. Anyone interested in volunteering at Aroostook is encouraged to contact the Houlton Salvation Army at 207-532-2322. There is an online form for people who wish to volunteer in Bangor by visiting the Salvation Army website.
In Aroostook County, red kettles can be found outside Marden’s and Walmart stores, as well as most grocery stores in Houlton, Almost Isle, and Caribou.
There are nine Salvation Army Corps (facilities) in Maine that provide services and programs for children, adults, and seniors. These include Bangor, Capital Region (Augusta and Waterville communities), Brunswick, Lewiston, Old Orchard Beach, Portland, Rockland, Sanford and Houlton (County of Aroostook).
The Salvation Army also serves those in need in 91 other communities through volunteers in its service units.
More articles from the BDN
#Rising #oil #energy #costs #stretch #Salvation #Army #aid