Utility Bill Help Through Albion-Homer United Way Grant

Electricity, water and gas service are essential to everyday life. For those having difficulty paying for these utilities a recent Albion-Homer United Way grant may help. 

Through a $3,000 grant to the Albion First United Methodist Church’s “House by the Side of the Road” fund the local United Way has helped pay for utilities for many area families. 

According to the grant application the church has been able to help residents who need a minimum payment amount to keep utilities on or help with service restoration. From July to December 2020 the church assisted 54 people with AHUW funding that was matched by the church. The ongoing program was able to help 44 additional residents this year with the remainder of the previous United Way funding.

 This program is again being supported by AHUW grant funds combined with other funding sought by the Methodist church. Helping people with utilities fits the goals of the Albion-Homer United Way by making sure people’s basic needs are met. 

 This grant aligns with the mission of the Albion-Homer United Way to provide “long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening” to help community members “live more whole lives-a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health,” stated Marcia Starkey, AHUW executive director.

Recently previous AHUW donors were mailed information about how to continue to support the Albion-Homer United Way through donations to help both communities.         

There are several good reasons to donate to the local United Way to allow AHUW to continue to support local organizations, Starkey said. These reasons include that donations fund Albion and Homer specific programs and that funding decisions are made by a local board. Donor lists are never shared with other agencies and payroll deductions make donating easier.

Donations can always be mailed to AHUW P.O. Box 55, Albion, MI 49224, made  on-line at www.albionhomeruw.org or by contacting Starkey at 517-499-2563. 

Board members are Carolyn Amos, Donisha Brewer, Chris Burdette, Robert Hawkins, Ryan Hopkins, Art Kale, Isabell Nazar, Gary Tompkins, Eddie Williams and Shane Williamson.