Orangeburg DPU Project Good Neighbor utility bill assistance.

Customers, employees, and local charities provide energy bill assistance to the less fortunate using the Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities Project Good Neighbor program. The various groups collect money from the public or private industries, and they partner with social service agencies such as Cooperative Church Ministries of Orangeburg to help low income families keep their electricity, power, and heat on.

The effort is all encompassing. It combines the work of volunteers as well as the company itself. And of course the vast majority of the donations to Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities Project Good Neighbor come from the general public, with about 95% of the money collected going to pay utility bills. A small amount (the 5% or so) is used for administrative expenses. Most of the money is raised by local charities.

DPU Good Neighbor is an emergency financial aid program. This means it is only available on occasion (and not recurring) but is can pay a wide range of expenses, including fuel oil, kerosene, firewood, coal, electricity, natural gas or other fuels necessary for keeping low income families safe and warm. In addition to the one time aid, CCMO of Orangeburg also provides other support services around food, employment, medication, and more.

Volunteers and donations from Good Neighbor and CCMO

Cooperative Church Ministries of Orangeburg is a 100% volunteer run organization. They are out in the community helping the poor and less fortunate. They also work with corporations such as Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities. All of the financial assistance programs which are available from this service, whether from the energy companies or CCMO, are combined for paying utility bills.

 

 

They rely on these donations as well as volunteers. The team(s) screen the applications from the population. They determine who should be qualified for utility bill assistance from Orangeburg DPU Project Good Neighbor or who should be eligible for another benefit program, such as LIHEAP or something else. The end goal is to always help the family in some capacity or another. But it is only an emergency program for those in a short term crisis.

When there is funding, it can pay a wide range of utility bills as people in Orangeburg may use different fuel types. The types of utilities that can be paid range from electricity to gas, heat, and many others. The qualified family will be given a grant for their needs.

To apply for financial help from Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities Project Good Neighbor, dial 803-268-4050. Another option is for the individual to call Cooperative Church Ministries of Orangeburg (CCMO) at 899 Russell Street, Orangeburg, South Carolina 29115. The phone number is (803) 531-4913.