Project Highlight: Agape Square

Project Highlight: Agape Square

Agape Square, a Habitat for Humanity community in Portland’s Cully neighborhood, has been chosen for Oregon Energy Fund’s third energy retrofit project in the Portland Metro area. Fourteen diverse families call Agape Square home.

Maintaining a home is challenging for the low-income homeowners, especially when expensive critical repairs are needed. Oregon Energy Fund’s retrofit program provides both short-term and long-term solutions to these families, ensuring that their homes will be safe and comfortable by winter.

In the words of Hans, a grateful Habitat for Humanity homeowner, “It felt like a blessing that it just came to us.” These projects, he emphasizes, are not just helpful; they are crucial. They serve as the foundation upon which cherished memories are built and passed down through generations. Hans adds, “These kinda things are crucial and helpful to us to keep a well-working machine so that the kids can come over and enjoy the house that they grew up in. So it’s important to us.”

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Voices of Oregon Energy Fund

Voices of Oregon Energy Fund

Amarah was a dedicated student, determined to succeed in her spring term. However, life had a different plan for her. A month before the end of the semester, her primary source of income as a delivery driver came to a screeching halt. Her faithful car had finally given up on her. Amarah’s earnings vanished overnight, leaving her with a stack of unpaid bills.

With the commitment to see Amarah through her difficulties, Oregon Energy Fund offered a helping hand. We provided financial assistance to keep her power on during this trying period. The relief Amarah felt was immeasurable and allowed her to focus on her studies without constant worry.

The story of Amarah is a testament to Oregon Energy Fund’s mission to serve not only families but also students, recognizing that education is a powerful tool to overcome adversity. By assisting students like Amarah, we ensure that the flame of ambition continues to burn even in the darkest of times.

Donate To Oregon Energy Fund

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2023: The Year in Review

2023: The Year in Review

Oregon Energy Fund is an organization that holds a crucial place in the hearts and lives of Oregonians. For over three decades, we have been dedicated to supporting and empowering individuals and families throughout the state. We understand the significance of energy security and the impact it has on every aspect of people’s lives. From keeping a home warm during the coldest winter night to ensuring that the lights stay on during challenging
times, our mission is to provide assistance that goes beyond temporary relief.

We believe in tackling the root causes of energy insecurity, aiming for long-term stability and resilience for Oregonians. That stability is threatened when basic home maintenance and repairs are unaffordable for families. This is why Oregon Energy Fund has expanded our programming through corporate partnerships to include projects that offer no-cost repairs for heating and cooling equipment, insulation, and other costly appliances that keep people safe and energy bills manageable. These partnerships allow us to keep donor contributions focused on energy assistance, while also allowing us to extend even greater support to clients in need.

As an organization deeply rooted in the community, we have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of our efforts. We have seen families lifted out of crisis, children given opportunities to thrive, and communities strengthened. Oregon Energy Fund is more than just an organization. For many, we are all that stands between them and the cold. In a world with so many barriers to building a bright and secure future, we are here to ensure that energy costs aren’t one of them. As the country’s only statewide energy assistance program, we take this responsibility seriously, but we can’t do it alone.

Your support enables us to continue creating a future where every Oregonian has the energy security they deserve. This will ensure that families never have to face the heart-wrenching choice between electricity and food due to an unexpected crisis. I continue to draw inspiration from the incredible support of our community, knowing that together, we can continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Oregonians.

Donate To Oregon Energy Fund

Read Our 2023 Annual Report

Oregon Energy Fund’s 2023 Illuminate Gala Was a Success!

Oregon Energy Fund’s 2023 Illuminate Gala Was a Success!

 

We had such an amazing time at our Illuminate Gala last weekend! Thanks to the support of our community, Oregon Energy Fund raised almost $70,000 to power a brighter future for our neighbors in need. 

Share your event photos with us online by using the hashtag #Illuminate23 and #ORenergyfund

View digital copies of your Instapix NW photos here!

Credit: Curtis Smith Photography

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Introducing Oregon Energy Fund’s New Retrofit Programs 

 

Thank You 

We want to give a special thank you to our amazing sponsors and board members, generous donors, and wonderful vendors who all made the evening such a success. 

 

Stay tuned for our Annual Report mailing this winter to catch up on all the exciting work we have been up to this past year! 

Supporting Our Neighbors: A Community-Driven Mission

Supporting Our Neighbors: A Community-Driven Mission

At Oregon Energy Fund, we take great pride in our approach of “neighbor helping neighbor”, which ensures that the support you give stays within the communities you live in. When you donate to OEF, you can trust that your contribution , helping your neighbors who are facing financial hardships with their energy bills.

One of our remarkable monthly donors, Donna, exemplifies the spirit of giving back to the community. Living with four other retired seniors, Donna appreciates the impact of assistance they received during the scorching summer of 2015. Grateful for the lifesaving support, Donna now gives a monthly gift to express her gratitude and contribute to the well-being of her neighbors.

It’s inspiring to see that many of our longstanding donors are also themselves recipients of OEF assistance. Their stories remind us that our mission goes beyond merely providing financial aid during emergencies. By supporting our neighbors directly, we foster a sense of unity and resilience within our community. It’s heartening to witness the sharing of kindness, as those who once received support are now eager to pay it forward and support others in need.

Sheri and David, two of our dedicated OEF donors, expressed their gratitude for our community-driven mission, stating, “We are so glad you are looking out for our neighbors who need a bit of assistance. We feel strongly that we each need to be a ray of for each other.” These words encapsulate the essence of our work—a collective effort to be a beacon of hope and support for our fellow community members.

As we move forward, let us remember that our community-driven mission is not just about financial assistance; it’s about fostering a sense of compassion, empathy, and support for our neighbors. Every act of kindness, whether it’s a monthly donation or a helping hand, creates a ripple effect that positively impacts the lives of those around us.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of you for being part of this remarkable community. Together, we can continue to be the ray of light that illuminates the lives of our neighbors. Donate to Oregon Energy Fund today!

In His Words: Anthony

In His Words: Anthony

Anthony lives in a small apartment in downtown Portland with his daughter. We received a phone call from Anthony during one of the heat waves last summer. Their power had been previously disconnected, and the inside temperature of their apartment was over 100 degrees on the day they called.

While losing power is always detrimental, Anthony was undergoing cancer treatment and had medication that needed to be kept refrigerated. On top of that, his daughter that lived with him was in a high-risk pregnancy and needed to be in safe temperatures for the health of her and the baby.

Joining forces with our agency partners, Oregon Energy Fund helped this medically vulnerable family by providing enough assistance to have power restored the same day, keeping everyone safe and cool during a critical time. Donate to Oregon Energy Fund today to support this critical work.

2022: The Year in Review

2022: The Year in Review

Dear friends,

While post-pandemic job recovery has been swift, many families have not been able to make up the income that was lost during “stay home” periods and are still significantly behind in their expenses.  Worse yet, the number of utility customers with past due bills continues to be higher than it was Pre-pandemic. One-time assistance payments can give families the help they require to pay their bills in full and not have to face a disconnect.  This is the problem that OEF, with your support, solves for thousands of Oregonians every year.

All the time, we hear from recipients who tell us how receiving energy assistance meant they could pay the bills and buy food for their family, not having to choose one over the other. We recognize that the need for assistance continues to be high, which is why we are thrilled to have been able to expand our impact during the summer, as well as increase funding to rural counties across the state.

One of our most exciting accomplishments this year is the Nonprofit Energy Retrofit Collaboration. OEF and NW Natural have teamed up to assist Albertina Kerr, a nonprofit that serves Oregonians with developmental disabilities. Together, we are performing construction upgrades to help Kerr lower its energy costs and increase the overall health and quality of life for its residents. We are delighted to expand our programming in this way and look forward to assisting other nonprofits across the state in coming years.

Our annual benefit was held on October 29th this year at the Sentinel Hotel. With our highest turnout in recent years, we raised almost $70,000 to assist our neighbors in financial crisis with their energy bills to support household stability.

In the simplest terms, OEF has a solution that works. It matters. Your support makes a difference in the lives of your neighbors, every single day. I am inspired by the unwavering support shown by our community and am confident that we can build a brighter future together.

Sincerely,

Brian Allbritton
Executive Director

Oregon Energy Fund’s 2022 Benefit Beneath the Stars Was a Success!

Oregon Energy Fund’s 2022 Benefit Beneath the Stars Was a Success!

We had such an amazing time at our Benefit Beneath the Stars last month! With our highest turnout in recent years, Oregon Energy Fund raised almost $70,000 to power a brighter future for our neighbors in need. Be sure to save the date for next year’s benefit on September 16th, 2023!

2022 Benefit Beneath the Stars

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Share your event photos with us online by using the hashtag #BeneaththeStars and #ORenergyfund

View digital copies of your Instapix NW photos here!

 

Hear From Our Partners

 

 

Thank You 

We want to give a special thank you to our amazing sponsors and board members, generous donors, and wonderful vendors who all made the evening such a success. 

 

Stay tuned for our Annual Report mailing this winter to catch up on all the exciting work we have been up to this past year! 

In His Words: Paul

In His Words: Paul

Paul lost his partner this past winter. The year has been full of hardship for Paul, not only because he is grieving the loss of his partner, but because he lost all additional income that the household had. Paul lives in a rural area and must travel 30 miles each time that he needs groceries and medication, which continues to add major expenses each month.

Oregon Energy Fund was able to pay off Paul’s balance to keep him protected from a shutoff while he got back on his feet. We couldn’t do this critical work without the support of our generous donors. Will you donate to Oregon Energy Fund today?