O&R's Neighbor Fund begins its 25th year of helping customers

Pearl River — Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. has announced that its Neighbor Fund, which provides emergency help for the utility’s customer, has re-opened for the winter heating season. The Neighbor Fund provides home-heating assistance for those O&R customers who find themselves unable to pay their home-heating fuel bills because of emergency financial conditions. Since 1983, the fund has awarded nearly $4 million in grants to about 15,000 households enduring financial hardship. Last year, O&R made more than 100 grants totaling more than $35,000. Half that grant total comes from O&R customers’ contributions. That amount is matched dollar-for-dollar by the shareholders of Consolidated Edison, Inc., O&R’s parent company. The Neighbor Fund provides a one-time grant for electric customers of $250 and for heating fuel customers of $250. Grants from The Neighbor Fund are awarded to pay for home energy costs no matter what type of fuel is used: electricity, oil, natural gas, propane, wood or coal. The grant money does not have to be repaid and there are no age limits or income guidelines to be met. Essential information To apply To qualify for The Neighbor Fund grant, individuals must have an account with O&R, or Pike County Light & Power Company for Pennsylvania customers, and must already have exhausted all governmental resources available for financial assistance. They must also provide supporting documentation of emergency/crisis circumstances (medical bills, unemployment notification, etc.) The Salvation Army administers The Neighbor Fund program, evaluates applications and makes the grants. If you need the fund’s assistance, contact the Salvation Army offices in Spring Valley (352-9577), Middletown (343-0821) or Port Jervis (856-3214) or Kiryas Joel Social Services (783-7656). To donate If you wish to make a contribution to The Neighbor, add $1 to your energy bill payment, or write a check payable to The Neighbor Fund, and send it to O&R at 1 Blue Hill Plaza, Pearl River, N.Y., 10965 Attention Linda Feger.