'I didn't know what to do': Seabrook man's electricity restored thanks to Gift of Warmth
SEABROOK — When Anthony Cole got behind on bills, resulting in his power being shut off, he did not know who to turn to, and went weeks without electricity.
When he was more than $800 behind, with no way to pay the bill and have his electricity restored, he turned to Rockingham Community Action.
"I didn't know what I was going to do," said Cole, 24. "I do not work because I am disabled. I don't have a license, and I suffer from a lot of anxiety. My case worker told me about community action and suggested I contact them. They saved me."
Cole said he has been in terrible situations and at some points was homeless.
"I was terrified," he said. "I had already gone a couple of weeks without power. I couldn't even cook food. The people at Rockingham CAP went right to work. They paid my back balance and had the power turned on in two days."
Besides being very grateful for the help, Cole said he has a message to impart to anyone else in need of help.
"It hurt my pride to have to ask for help, but I was so wrong," said Cole. "It was so comforting and to anyone who needs help, I say reach out. Ask. The worst that can happen is they say no. But I know that these wonderful people will go the extra mile to find a way to help. They reached out to three different programs before they made this work for me. I was astounded. To tell the truth, I was harmed more by not asking sooner."
Cole said he was happy to share his story. He said he wants to thank the people of Rockingham Community Action, and he also wants others to know about the help available to them.
Money donated to Gift of Warmth by the generous readers of Seacoast Media Group publications goes directly to the Strafford and Rockingham county community action programs, which help our neighbors in need stay warm when the weather turns cold.
How to donate to Gift of Warmth
This year, we ask that checks to Gift of Warmth be made out directly to either Rockingham Community Action or the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County. Please write “Gift of Warmth” in the check memo line to ensure the money goes for fuel assistance.
Checks can be mailed to Gift of Warmth, Seacoast Media Group, 210 Commerce Way, Suite 330, Portsmouth, NH 03801. We will tally the checks, record the names of each week’s contributors and then forward the checks on to the two county community action programs. Each week throughout the campaign, Seacoast Media Group will publish that week’s donors.
If you need help
To apply for fuel assistance, call Rockingham Community Action at (603) 431-2911. People experiencing any significant hardship or financial crisis can also call and they will be referred to the appropriate person. For more information, visit snhs.org.
For Community Action Partnership of Strafford County, call (603) 435-2500 or visit straffordcap.org.
Recent donors include:
Jay and Mary-Pat Gibson, $3,000
Anonymous, $500
Anonymous in Memory of John O. Johnsten, $50
Philip and Sylvia Pelletier, $100
Diane Riley, $50
Cynthia Harriman, $100
Sheila Sullivan, $500
Stephen and Mary Silverman, $100
Anonymous, $50
Peter and Jennie Dinnerman, $250
Bob and Kathe Lewis, $100
The Family, $100
Anonymous, $100
Michael Kaplan, $500
The King family, $250
Louise Curtin, $100
Mary and Thomas Lambert, $100
Anonymous, $325
Christine Luskey Burns in Memory of Margaret Hafner, $150
Leslie and Matthew Allen, $200
Patricia Wood, $100
Don and Marcia Lamothe, $200
Green Velvet Landscape, $200
In memory of George Kershenbaum, $50
In memory of Irene L. Balaban, $50
Ann Woodward Rev. Trust, $100
William and Marla Hickey, $150
Robert and Kathleen Calkins, $100
Richard and Donna Dellapaolera, $200
In memory of Susan Ronchi, $100
Tammy Cottle, $50
Salkovitz Trust, $200
Heather Ross, $100
Total for the week: $8,225
Total to date: $38,590
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seabrook man no longer in the cold and dark, thanks to Gift of Warmth
