Contribute to utility bill assistance donation programs.

Many of the resources listed on this website rely on donations as well as volunteers. They rely on the community to give back so that low income or struggling customers can get utility bill assistance. The programs which help the less fortunate go by many names, including Operation Round Up, Project Share, Helping Hand, Share the Warmth, Gift of Energy and many others. Almost every single utility company will have its own name for the programs.

Regardless of the name, they are all very similar. At the end of the day, they rely on donations to keep them funded and operating. Funds can come from businesses, private residences, commercial accounts, or even employees of utility companies. Many also rely on volunteers to spread the word or even help collect funds to process applications. As the donation programs often run in partnership with charities such as the Salvation Army, community action or the like; and those agencies really use the volunteers.

Any donations are completely voluntary. You can donate as little or as much as possible. Or of course do not donate anything! And of course any contribution can be started or stopped as you see fit too.

As noted, almost every single service will be slightly different, but the donations also tend to have a lot in common. There will usually be a “Round Up” type option or a one time contribution. They can generally be done using the monthly utility bill you may receive as well.

How does Rounding Up your utility bill work? First of all, as noted it is voluntary and can be stopped (or started) at any time. That being said, the process really just round up your monthly utility bill to the next highest dollar amount, and that extra amount is then given to help fund an assistance program.

 

 

Examples of Rounding Up: So lets say your utility bill was $86.67 for the month of August. It would be rounded up to $87, and that is what you would pay. That extra 33 cents is then given to pay for a utility bill program. If your utility bill is $124.17 for December, that bill will be rounded up to $125 (which is what you would pay). That 83 cents is then given to pay for a utility bill assistance program.

You generally enroll into Round Up by calling your utility company or “checking” a box on your utility bill. As many companies list this option on their monthly bill.

Now of course, one time contributions are much easier to explain! Most utility companies have an option to fund some type of charity program. It is generally an option on the monthly utility bill to. Once again, each donation program may vary, but in general it involves checking a donate box on your monthly bill then mailing in a check for the amount you want to contribute.

Volunteering can also be done in many ways too. It is usually needed by a charity that also works with one of these utility company donation programs. Volunteers may hold fund raisers for services such as Share the Warmth, they may volunteer at the Salvation Army to process applications, or take part in other events to help the low income.

 

 

The bottom line is that you can see all across this website references to energy bill assistance programs that operate solely based on donations. The provide you, businesses, and really anyone the ability to give back and help others.