PRESS RELEASE
Twin Cities Salvation Army Urging Congress to
Spend Billions on Energy Assistance
January 28, 2008 –The Twin Cities Salvation Army will descend on Washington, D.C. this week to urge U.S. Congress members from Minnesota to support up to $3.62 billion on increased energy assistance for low-income families.
The money would be added to the widely publicized economic stimulus package and would fund the Federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which works in conjunction with HeatShare, a Salvation Army program that provides heating assistance to needy households.
In Washington County alone, HeatShare last year received more than 5,000 calls from people requesting assistance, yet was only able to help 350 households due to lack of funding.
“Clearly, the need for heating assistance is not being met,” said HeatShare Director Mike McGlone, who will travel to Capitol Hill with representatives from Xcel Energy, Minnesota Power, Minnesota Energy Resources and CenterPoint Energy.
LIHEAP says it needs the extra funding because households will next winter pay up to 39 percent more for heating fuels, according to statistics provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
HeatShare is a voluntary, non-governmental program of The Salvation Army. HeatShare contributions are also used to provide needy families with budget and family counseling.
HeatShare donations can be sent to 2445 Prior Ave., Roseville, MN 55113. Click below to make an online donation.
