The Gift of Warmth program was established by local business leaders to help the United Way augment its Emergency Heating Fund. You may have seen the recent news that the region's unemployment rate continues to hover near 10% and, according to the latest census figures, an astounding 15% of families are now in poverty in our area, including one out of every four children in our community who are now impoverished. The good news is, it's easy to help!

What is the Gift of Warmth program?
Each year during the holiday season, area companies and organizations send numerous tokens of appreciation to their clients and vendors. The Gift of Warmth program encourages these socially conscious business leaders to use all or even a portion of their gift-giving budget to send the Gift of Warmth instead. 

How does the program work?
For a donation of $500 (or $5 per card) to the United Way's Emergency Heating Fund, you will receive 100 Gift of Warmth cards to insert in your corporate holiday cards to clients, vendors and customers. Additional cards are available for an additional donation. If you would like, you can also provide the United Way with a list of names and addresses of the clients who are receiving the cards and they will be sent a gift acknowledgment postcard. {A personal version is also available. Please contact the United Way for more information.}

What does the card look like?
The Gift of Warmth cards now feature full-color images throughout and are suitable to be included in your own holiday greetings or can stand-alone as well!

How is the United Way's Emergency Heating Fund used?
The United Way fund is closely monitored by trained social workers and volunteers and is utilized for extreme emergencies. Last year,  $100,000 was raised through the Gift of Warmth and every penny was used to provide emergency fuel/utility assistance or emergency furnace repair. For example, an elderly couple with only limited Social Security income ran out of heating oil during one of the coldest stretches of winter weather. The funds raised through the Gift of Warmth program made the difference between being safe and warm in their home or having to choose between essentials such as food and medicine. Similarly, a hard-working single parent family with four children was nearly left homeless last December when their furnace broke and began leaking kerosene onto the floor. The parent's wages were not enough to cover repair costs, and space heaters were their only source of heat. Again, this family received the Gift of Warmth and celebrated the holiday knowing they would remain together in their own home and safe from harm. The Gift of Warmth steps in when crises like these--and many more--arise and people have no where else to turn.

For more information or to order your cards, please contact the United Way at 343-1267, ext. 221 or email us.