Iowa Black Hills Cares utility bill donation program.

Launched in early 2000, the Cares program from Black Hills Energy uses donations and contributions from the region in an effort to assist struggling families. This is one of the companies primary resources for low income families that are facing a one time crisis. Tens of thousands of dollars are usually paid out each year to those that qualify for assistance.

Donations are always needed in order to keep Cares funded and running. The company made it simple to do this, and both one time contributions can be made or someone can make a recurring donation. In either case, Black Hills Energy will often match a portion of it up to a certain dollar amount. So in effect, the program provides people the ability to give back to the community and to help those that are less fortunate in Iowa.

If you want to assist, customers can sign up to have any amount they want (even as low as $1) added to the monthly payment on their monthly energy or heating bill. Every dollar you donate will make a difference in someone’s life, and many contributions will also be tax deductible.

For those that contribute, Black Hills Energy will match the donation. They match both employee and customer contributions, dollar-for-dollar. The process is simple, and people just need to check the box on the front of their monthly bill stub to indicate the amount they would like to donate. Then include a separate check for that amount.

Agencies across Iowa manage the Care program, so they accept and process applications. Your generous, voluntary tax-deductible contributions will go a long way towards helping pay emergency, energy-related expenses for seniors, the disabled, elderly and very low income people in Iowa. Most of the funds are transferred by Black Hills to Iowa Community Action Association for distribution to qualified low income households.

The Cares utility bill assistance program provides funds to help families and individuals with paying their energy or heating bills as well as emergency energy-related expenses, such as to repair a furnace. Contact a local community agency to apply. Any amount of assistance paid out will be determined by those agencies. They will, among other things, both determine individual customer eligibility and distribute funds to households.

In many cases, the funds will be offered to applicants that are most at risk, and this can include an elderly person with a medical condition or a low income family in Iowa with children. As with any assistance program, resources are very limited, and only a small dollar amount (if anything) will be paid out.

It is not a charity program. Cares is intended to provide one time assistance to families. This can help prevent a disconnection or keep their power on for a small amount of time. This will ideally allow the customer time to gain stability and address the cause of their hardship. To apply, call a local community agency in Iowa.