Warm-hearted readers help neighbors in need through 18th annual Gift of Warmth campaign

DOVER — Once again, Seacoast Media Group's kind and generous readers have made the annual Gift of Warmth campaign a heart-warming success.

To date, the Gift of Warmth program has raised just shy of $60,000 (with many checks still arriving) for use by the Rockingham and Strafford county community assistance programs to help our neighbors in need stay warm when the weather turns cold.

For 18 years, those who have been helped by Gift of Warmth, most often due to illness, infirmity accident, job loss or some other hardship, have shared their stories, putting a name to the need. And the common thread in their stories is that they never expected to need help, were reluctant to ask for help and then were so grateful when help was given with kindness and compassion. They tell their stories as a way of giving back to the community that has cared for them and so that funds can be raised to help others as they have been helped.

All money raised during the Gift of Warmth campaign goes directly to the CAP programs. Unlike federal fuel assistance, these funds come with no strings attached. Community action can apply the money quickly and where it is most needed without having to clear bureaucratic hurdles.

"The money raised through the Gift of Warmth Campaign impacts our ability to help clients in various states of crisis efficiently and effectively, allowing for solutions to be found most quickly," said Patte Ardizzoni, Rockingham County community engagement manager for Southern New Hampshire Services, Inc.

Ardizzoni said the community action programs use the funds in partnership with other social service providers to multiply their impact.

"We engage our partners who have available appropriate services, as well as their own financial resources," Ardizzoni said. "In this way we're able to continue being excellent stewards of the Gift of Warmth donations, and by reaching out to those partners, we're ensuring that the funds donated go 2-3 times further than the face value."

Ardizzoni said they have used the Gift of Warmth funds this year to help with housing security deposits, to provide heat to households who are just over federal income limits and to make a car repair possible so that employment wasn't threatened.

Betsey Andrews Parker, CEO of Community Action Partnership of Strafford County, said they are happy to be a part of the Gift of Warmth program.

"A heartfelt thank you to our generous readers who have lit up homes and hearts with their donations to our fuel assistance fund," said Andrews Parker. “Your donations to our fuel assistance fund are making a real difference in our community."

For its part, the staff at Seacoast Media Group considers Gift of Warmth one of the most fulfilling things they work on each year.

"Helping people is what motivates Seacoast Media Group reporters, photographers and editors," said Executive Editor Howard Altschiller. "We are honored each year to partner with our readers and the community action programs to make a positive difference in the communities we serve."

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:

H. Dixon and Monique Turner, $200

Michael and Mary Daigle, $500

Dickson Revocable Trust, $100

Piscataqua Savings Bank, $2,000

Julie McCann, $100

Mark and Lynn Muscato, $150

Anonymous, $100

Stephen and Catherine Ellingwood, $500

In memory of Barb Iafolla, $50

Total this week: $3,700.00

Total to date: $59,708.00

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Gift of Warmth exceeds its fundrasing goal to help neighbors in need