Businesses and members of the community donate to Avista Project Share. The company collects funds, in partnership with other groups, and the money is used to help income qualified customers with paying their monthly utility bills. The program is limited in scope, and only a small number of applications can be fulfilled.
Donations from the community is what allows Project Share to operate, and it really allows people as well as the company itself to lend a helping hand to the less fortunate. Many people that benefit could be seniors, the unemployed, or someone facing a medical crisis. Oftentimes the program coordinates with other utility programs, such as weatherization, in order to be even more effective.
To contribute, anyone can do this through adding extra money to a utility bill. The company accepts both one time contributions as well as recurring funds. No matter what is selected, the customer can stop donating anytime they want, and they do not need to make a long term commitment.
Not only do people contribute money to it, but Avista as well as its employees also donate. There are a combination of matching grants used, and employees may hold fund raisers or contribute a portion of their paycheck to it. No matter the source, all of the funds are used to help qualified low income families that are faced with a crisis.
Project Share is for low income families as well as people that would be at risk if they did not have any power. So this can be a household with a young child or maybe a senior citizen that gets their electricity from Avista. There is also a focus on the greater Spokane County area.
Anyone that needs help should contact the company, or they can call a community action agency in Washington. A number of fuel and utility types can be paid by Project Share, including electricity, natural gas, propane, wood and coal. So the program is flexible. Proof of income, address, and other information will be needed. If the individual meets all income conditions, then they may qualify for assistance with a bill.
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Non-profit community action agencies process applications for Project Share. They partner with the company and other groups in order to verify the application, and confirm the customer's needs. The aid will be more people facing an emergency that are out of options. Call them, or the company, for more information.