OEF Raises Over $30,000 To Help Launch 2021 Summer Funding
As the days grow hotter and the need for cooling grows, we’re thrilled to announce that Oregon Energy Fund has raised over $30,000 to help expand our energy assistance program into the summer. This expansion has been funded by generous grants from the Oregon Community Foundation and the U.S. Bank Foundation, as well as donations from individuals like you. Thank you for your support!
Like most energy assistance programs, OEF is most active during the winter, with only leftover funds saved for the warm months. Given Oregon’s historically mild summers, this model worked for years. But as climate change has grown more severe, our summers have grown hotter and drier. Heat kills more Americans annually than any other natural disaster, and Oregonians are increasingly at risk.
The good news? Heat illness can be easily prevented with A/C. However, the cost of running A/C is unaffordable for many low-income families, forcing them to choose between utility debt and “sweltering in place.” The ability to cool our homes is particularly urgent as wildfires grow worse and hazardous air quality can keep us trapped inside for days.
We’ve heard from our own community about these challenges. More and more people have turned to us for help with their energy bills during heat waves, with only limited funding available. And few other programs provide assistance in the summer, leaving those in need with few options.
So we decided to act. With the help of OCF, US Bank, and donors like you, we’ve begun the process of expanding Oregon Energy Fund’s program so assistance is available all year long. Summer services will begin in the Portland and Medford areas this summer, and will eventually expand along the I-5 corridor and across the state.
We’re pleased to be able to offer this critical expansion of our program, and this is only the beginning. Please join me in donating to OEF today so we can continue to respond to this growing need — and ensure our neighbors can keep their homes and loved ones healthy and cool.