Dead River, Hannaford offer heating help Calls for assistance pouring into 2-1-1

SHARE THE WARMTH — At Paradis’ Shop ‘N Save in Houlton, Assistant Store Manager David Belyea, right, shows Terry Nason and wife Bev the card cashier’s use at the register allowing customers to make a donation to the campaign to help families heat their homes. After hearing how they could put $2 or $5 on their grocery receipt to support the campaign and help others, Bev Nason said: “It sounds wonderful.”
By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Hannaford Supermarkets and Dead River Company have teamed up to help families facing the high cost of home heating through their “Share the Warmth” campaign. Hannaford’s customers throughout Maine and New Hampshire will be able to make a $2 or $5 donation by January 31 at the  checkout counter and Dead River will match all donations up to $100,000.
    Dead River VP, Deanna Sherman, said planning for the campaign, that runs for the last three weeks in January, started back in the summer when oil prices peaked. “And we thought about partnering with Hannaford because Hannaford has very much the same footprint as we do.” But as prices started dropping, so did the economy with the concomitant loss of jobs. As planning  progressed, she explained the corporate philosophy: “Even though prices are coming down drastically, we still think there’s a need out there.”
    John Shoos, senior vice president at United Way of Greater Portland, says “The need is there, unquestionably. So, people are calling to say ‘I want to know where I can get heating assistance.’”  He says 2,000 people called 2-1-1 for heating assistance or information in December. And, last Friday, alone, 250 people called.
    While federal assistance through the LIHEAP program has increased, some families fail to qualify because their income is just over the guidelines. Sherman says Dead River asked United Way to target families “in between” who may need heating assistance, but may not qualify for other means of help. “We really are leaving it to the United Way to find the best way to help people that need it most. But we are not setting up any defined criteria.”
    Shoos says money will be distributed based on need within each county and “it’s a tremendous gift, $100,000 is quite substantial.” He says, the timing is right because people who can give, and are fortunate enough to go home to a warm house after buying some groceries, will be thinking about their neighbors when it’s presented to them. “These monies will actually help us to distribute oil to people,” says Shoos. In-store posters and signage at cash registers are bolstered by broadcast advertising.
REGISTER HERE — Hannaford-owned and affiliated stores will display these signs to remind customers of the “Share the Warmth” campaign through the end of January. Sponsored by Hannaford and Dead River Company, the campaign is raising money for families and individuals who need heating assistance. The $2 or $5 donations will be matched by Dead River up to $100,000.
    In Aroostook County, the independently-owned Shop ‘n Save stores, affiliated with Hannaford, are participating in the campaign. Owner, Craig Paradis, says he opted in and was happy to participate although his stores were not required to do so. He says, anything to help the local community “is great.” His stores in Houlton, Brewer, Madawaska, Fort Kent, Caribou and Calais will have the checkout card that cashiers can scan onto the customer’s receipt per their request to make a donation.
    Michael Norton, Hannaford spokesperson, says the collaboration between Hannaford and Dead River is an example of two companies with deep Maine roots looking for an opportunity to help and being able to double the impact.