United Military Care (UMC), a Georgia nonprofit, is teaming up with natural gas provider SCANA Energy to help Georgia military families with heating costs this winter. For every dollar United Military Care raises over $5,000, SCANA will match every dollar up to $10,000, raised through February of 2015. The fund was launched on Veteran’s Day and has so far raised over $5,600.
On average, United Military Care gets around 13 calls every month from military families requesting utility assistance. Some of those calls come from our metro-Atlanta area. The non-profit UMC has served over 8,000 families with different needs over the course of its history. They serve both active military families as well as veterans.
According to United Military Care, nearly half of all military families acknowledge finances as a top stressor during their military service.
The National Weather service is again predicting a cooler winter for our area. If you know of a military family that is in need of assistance, share the UMC website with them. In addition to the matching fund campaign, SCANA energy also offers a military discount on natural gas rates for military families.
For other families in Georgia that need assistance with heat costs but who are not associated with the military, there are other programs that could help:
- Georgia Energy Assistance Program (EAP)
- The Heating Energy Assistance Program ( HEAT)
- Project SHARE, administered through the Salvation Army
For those of us who are able to comfortably heat our homes, donating to a heating assistance program during the winter can make a big difference for others in our community.
At Alpharetta’s Gagne Heating and Air, we’re thankful this holiday season for the service of our military families, and for heat!
We don’t want anyone to be left in the cold. For those who need it, we offer several different financing options with approved credit for new furnaces and heat pumps. Our expert heat technicians can help your family find a system that fits in your budget.
And if you’re looking for ways to lower your heating costs this winter, learn about easy and cheap energy efficiency upgrades to your home, such as sealing ductwork and installing a programmable thermostat.