‘Share the Warmth’ extended

    PORTLAND — With the demand for heating assistance still high and several more weeks of winter ahead, Dead River Company and United Way of Greater Portland announced today that they are extending the donation deadline for Share the Warmth, a fundraising campaign to raise funds for fuel assistance, from March 11 to March 18.
    The fundraising effort targets individuals and businesses and Dead River Company will match every dollar collected up to $100,000. United Way of Greater Portland is collecting all donations online through www.deadriver.com/sharethewarmth and via checks and distributing funds to the agencies that provide fuel assistance in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
    The fundraising effort began on Feb. 22 and more than 50 contributions have been received totaling almost 25 percent of what is needed to ensure the $100,000 match from Dead River Company. A significant pledge of $10,000 was made by Unum (NYSE: UNM). Additionally, more than 40 households in Maine have received heating fuel as a result of funds raised through Share the Warmth.
    Since the launch of Share the Warmth, many stories have been reported by 2-1-1 of people calling to request fuel assistance. These range from a young woman who did not qualify for general assistance, but was out of fuel and unable to pay for more because most of her money goes to paying for family medical expenses; to a gentleman who had recently had heart surgery and had run out of fuel and was forced to drag pallets from his backyard to burn in order to keep warm; and a father of two preschool children who had run out of fuel and was using his electric stove to keep his family warm and prevent his pipes from freezing.
    “Nothing would make Dead River Company happier than signing a check for $100,000 to benefit fuel assistance when this campaign concludes,” said Bob Moore, president and CEO, Dead River Company. “We are grateful to Unum for its generous contribution to Share the Warmth and to the dozens of other individuals who have collectively contributed more than $20,000 so that more families can stay warm this winter.”
    In Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, approximately 1 in 10 households are anticipated to need heating assistance. Because of the cold winter, federal and state fuel assistance funds are rapidly depleting in Northern New England.  Reports from 2-1-1 Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont indicate that calls for fuel assistance have increased on average close to 40 percent across the three states since this time last year
    “Everyday we hear more stories of need from 2-1-1 and it is wonderful to see Share the Warmth striking a cord in our community and so many donations being made,” said Suzanne McCormick, president and CEO, United Way of Greater Portland. “We have achieved almost a quarter of our $100,000 goal and would be thrilled to exceed it.”
    Donations to Share the Warmth can be made in the following ways: online at www.deadriver.com/sharethewarmth; through checks mailed to Share the Warmth, c/o United Way of Greater Portland, P.O. Box 15200, Portland, ME 04112, or dropped off at any local Dead River Company office. All checks should be made payable to the United Way of Greater Portland with Share the Warmth noted on the checks.
    Individuals in need of information about fuel assistance should call 2-1-1 in their state.