Canton – The Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund, a cooperative effort between the state’s sponsoring energy companies and their customers to help households in temporary financial crisis pay their energy bills, announces that its 2022-2023 “Give the Gift of Warmth” campaign raised $755,564 in contributions and provided energy assistance to 1,592 households in need. The Fund has opened for the 2023-2024 season and applications are being accepted from all households that are eligible for assistance. The Fund disbursement for 2023-2024 is $400 per eligible household per heating season.
“We would like to thank the Fund’s sponsoring energy companies throughout the state, their customers and members of the corporate community who, even during these inflationary times, continued to provide warmth through their donations and helped us exceed our fundraising goal of $500,000,” said Marie McCabe, Chairperson of the 2023-2024 Good Neighbor Energy Fund campaign and Customer Service Representative for North Attleborough Electric Department.
The Fund is often the last resort for families who have not qualified for federal and state assistance programs. The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division, which administers the Fund throughout Massachusetts, pays the energy provider directly for households whose gross income falls between 60 and 80 percent of the state’s median income levels. For example, in the 2023-2024 GNEF campaign year, a household size of four would need to have a total gross yearly income of between $87,294 and $116,392 to qualify.
Since its establishment in 1985, the Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund has raised over $24.5 million and helped more than 94,850 families in need pay a month’s energy expense. For more information, please visit www.magoodneighbor.org.
