Albion-Homer United Way Grant Assists With Utility Bills

In an effort to alleviate worry about utility bills the Albion-Homer United Way has added an initial $3,000 grant from its Emergency Relief Fund (ERF) to help qualified residents pay for gas and electric costs. Residents are already being helped through the Albion United Methodist Church and the AHUW donation will help this program continue to help pay for Southeastern Michigan Gas and Consumers Power Co. bills. 

The generosity of the community exceeded expectations as the Albion-Homer United Way Emergency Relief Fund (ERF) more than met its goal.  Donors to this fund for the Albion and Homer communities gave over $12,500 to qualify for a matching grant initiative from the Albion Community Foundation. A total of $37,500 was raised for this emergency fund.

All contributions designed for the ERF will stay in the Albion-Homer communities with 100% of dollars raised granted to help meet local agency needs. There will be no administrative fees charged. The AHUW board and other volunteers will review immediate local needs so funds can quickly get to organizations in our communities.  You can still send a check to Albion-Homer United Way P.O. Box 55 Albion, MI 49224 or donate on-line at https://www.albionhomeruw.org.

Donations to the AHUW regular fund are also encouraged to allow the organization to continue making grants to community groups that continue to help the two towns. 

With monies from their traditional annual fund raising during COVID-19 AHUW has already helped with immediate needs in the communities it serves. Additional money raised for this special ERF will go to help other agencies provide services for immediate needs.

AHUW has been monitoring food and other essential needs in Homer and Albion and is assisting in getting food and now utility bill help to residents as needed, according to Executive Director Marcia Starkey. With the money raised in this fund drive local agencies will be able to better help the two communities during this pandemic crisis. 

AHUW works with local government and social service agencies to ensure a coordinated and efficient effort to quickly disburse funds raised to assist local food concerns, childcare and other basic living needs. Contacting 211 is where community members should turn as the source for help with housing, utility payments, and mounting bills because additional agencies are set up to provide these services. 

United Way agencies throughout Michigan and the nation are being asked to help during the COVID-19 pandemic.  As part of their structure United Way agencies are used to working with local organizations because UW has the background knowledge to particularly help in these trying times. During this pandemic foundations and companies are granting money to local United Ways so that this money is most effectively used to help meet the most critical needs in the communities they serve.

Albion First United Methodist Church Office Manager Cindi Kingel and Pastor Leslee Fitz check paperwork for the church’s fund to help qualified residents pay utility bills during the pandemic. A grant from the Albion-Homer United Way Emergency Relief Fund helped the church continue to assist residents.