Commission on Economic Opportunity 

Martin Luther King Jr. Fuel Fund

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It is COLD outside! Winter is here and we still have at least two more months of frigid and blustery weather ahead of us; yet many families are already struggling to keep the heat on. 

Seniors, living on fixed incomes are choosing between heat and medical expenses. Families with children are choosing between heat and food. Many times, they also must choose between heating their home or paying their rent or mortgage.

They should not have to choose. 

Those who need help with high energy costs and broken heating systems turn to the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO), the “People Helping People” organization. In November, a veteran found himself without heat after his electric service was cut-off.  He was over-income for the state program and was unable to afford the amount needed to restore his service on his own.  He reached out to CEO for help and we were able to assist this veteran through donations from the community, allowing him to heat his home throughout the winter.

This scenario, unfortunately, will repeat itself many times this winter - broken heating systems, empty fuel tanks and overdue bills will leave many families feeling cold and hopeless. The question becomes, will our community step in to provide financial support to help those who need it most? 

We urge congregations of faith, community organizations, corporations, businesses and concerned individuals to express their compassion through a charitable donation to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Fuel Fund, for the Commission on Economic Opportunity’s emergency fuel assistance program, which is intended to help when no other program can. Situations like the veteran described above, can only be resolved by the community's generosity.

Dr. King also said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” Will you help today?

Click here to donate now

Looking for Service Opportunities to Honor Dr. King? 
Check out our volunteer page!

Each season, thousands of families receive help through 
CEO's heating assistance programs.

Here are two of those stories...

Helping Seniors Stay Warm

Every winter, a local couple kept the thermostat low and wore sweaters indoors. Living on a fixed income, they carefully counted every dollar, but the heating bill still arrived higher each month. They worried as they reviewed the bill at the kitchen table, wondering which expense they could delay—medication, groceries, or heat. They sat together in the cold evening light, holding hands, hoping for warmer days and a little help to get them through the winter.

Helping Families Stay Warm

After the factory closed without warning, a single mother found herself home every day with her two children and no paycheck to rely on. Her application for unemployment benefits was delayed, then denied, leaving her with no income at all. As winter set in, the heating bill became a constant source of anxiety. She kept the heat as low as she could, cooking dinner early so the oven could warm the apartment a little longer. At night, the family slept in the same room under layers of blankets, listening to the furnace click on and off. The mother tried to stay hopeful for her children, but each cold morning reminded her how fragile their situation had become and how desperately they needed help to stay warm.

Click here to donate to the Martin Luther King Jr. Fuel Fund

 You may also mail a donation using the remittance form: