The Community Energy Fund of Lincoln County expects another record season in 2011-2012.
A non-profit organization, the Community Energy Fund (CEF) provides heating assistance to Lincoln County residents.
The organization paid $113,419.65 of the energy costs of residents in need in 2010-2011. This year, with higher energy costs and less federal assistance available, CEF President Todd Maurer expects the tab to reach $160,000.
Maurer, CEF Secretary Robert Clifford and Charlie Ault founded the program in 2005 and continue to assume most of the legwork. CEF doesn’t have paid employees or overhead and community members donate accounting, legal and printing services. “Every dollar generated goes to help somebody,” Maurer said.
“We’ve helped 1100 families in LC since 2005 to the tune of close to $400,000,” Clifford said.
The founders estimate CEF receives 90 percent of referrals from town offices. Residents who can’t afford their energy bills meet with municipal general assistance administrators, who frequently turn to CEF.
“If the town says ‘This person needs help. Can you help them?’ We’ll take it,” Clifford said.
CEF helps individuals and families who don’t qualify for local, state, or federal assistance. The remaining referrals come from people Clifford calls “the ears and eye of the community,” particularly clergy.
“There’s a lot of people who watch out for each other here,” Maurer said.
Lately, CEF sees a growing need from people dealing with health issues. By the time they pay their deductible, purchase medication and cope with lost wages, there just isn’t anything left to fill the oil tank.
“A lot of people are in survival mode, from what I’ve seen,” Maurer said. “They’re not living high on the hog. They’re just trying to survive.”
Financial struggles overwhelm residents to the point that some heat with electric ovens (Central Maine Power, unlike heating oil companies, cannot shut off service during the winter) or live day-to-day, filling five-gallon cans of kerosene.
In past seasons, CEF has frequently responded to requests at the end of the season, as winter drags on and reserves run low. This year, however, with high oil prices persisting through the summer and fall, many residents didn’t refill their tanks. Already, after the first winter storm, requests are pouring in.
Inflation in other areas, such as food (Maurer, who owns King Eider’s Pub, reports a 7-9 percent increase in the price of staples) places an additional burden on struggling households.
“The need is greater now,” Clifford said, and CEF will rely on the community to help fill the gap.
“The giving of the people in this county is astronomical,” Clifford said. CEF mails an annual fundraising letter and receives matching grants and community organizations host benefit dinners.
This year, CEF is rolling out a program designed to allow businesses and individuals to anonymously pay the home heating costs of employees, family or friends.
The Adopt Me program makes anonymity simple by funneling payments through CEF. The set-up also enables donors to claim the payments as a tax deduction.
The option to earmark donations for a family, individual or group of people has always been available. This year, CEF wants to increase awareness of the program.
A seasonal resident living in Florida and “not too concerned about their heating bills” might adopt a friend, neighbor or relative at home in Maine, Maurer suggests.
“In this business, I see that happening anyway,” Clifford, president of Colby & Gale, said. The Adopt Me program gives the donor anonymity and assurance that the funds go directly toward energy costs.
Clifford and Maurer also see businesses set aside funds for their employees. “They don’t even want to know” who receives the funds, Maurer said. “Every organization has somebody who is less fortunate.”
“It’s a great avenue for people and organizations to take care of their own,” Clifford said.
Adopt Me forms will be available at King Eider’s Pub, town offices throughout the county and by calling the CEF hotline.
For more information, contact the Community Energy Fund of Lincoln County at P.O. Box 40, Bristol, ME 04539 or 563-3883.