The Highlands Emergency Council wrapped what Mary Ann Cresswell, grants, projects and programs coordinator, called a very good holiday season in 2019, but now it’s time to move forward with 2020.
“The weather was nice this year,” she said. “We were down a little in the first round of our fuel disbursement program because of the warmer weather.”
As the winter months of 2020 kick into high gear, Cresswell and her Emergency Council volunteers are ready to go at it again, making sure those in need in the Highlands area stay warm, dry and have food in the pantry to weather these winter months.
“Those wanting to be included in the fuel disbursement program will need to sign up for the second round of fuel delivery during the last week in January,” she said. “Even those who signed up for December’s fuel disbursement need to come in and do it again.”
It’s a new day, Cresswell said.
“We have to know how much fuel we’ll need, so even if you signed up for the first round, you need to come in again,” she said.
Eligible households can sign up during the last week in January on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Emergency Council relies on individual and group donations to pay for and distribute fuel to those in need.
The Emergency Council has served 38 households so far this winter via the fuel program, based on the Federal Assistance Program qualification guidelines for food assistance.
“We use the same qualifications standards used by the food stamp program,” Cresswell said. “If a household qualifies for food stamps they should qualify to receive fuel.”
It takes a lot of courage to ask for help, Cresswell said.
“But sometimes, the bravest thing a person can do is to reach out and ask. We’re here to lend a hand during these difficult times. This is the mountains, and we help each other.”
Located at 71 Poplar Street in Highlands, the Emergency Council served about 58 households annually in 2019, depending on the weather, which is up from the approximately 50 households served in 2018. Cresswell expects more households will sign up for the second round of fuel assistance.
“We had snow this week, though for the most part, it has been a mild winter so far,” Cresswell said.
The qualifying households are determined by the guidelines set by the Food and Nutrition Services food stamp program. HEC uses the same guidelines for fuel.
“We provide all types of household heating fuel, propane, heating oil and wood,” said Creswell.
Fuel is distributed in 100-gallon increments per household, except for the wood.
“We have a few homes out there that are heated with wood and they’ll call up every now and then and ask for a load of wood,” she said.
If there is fuel leftover at the end of distribution, HEC will deliver a second 100-gallons to households in need, depending on the weather.
“If we have extra fuel, we’ll make an extra trip,” Cresswell said. “This is why we do a second sign-up at the end of January. It’s all about how much fuel we have and how many need it.”
In addition to fuel, the HEC also provides clothing and food, especially during the holidays. A total of about 48 families received from the Giving Trees, which concentrated on clothing and shoes.
“There were some toys, but mostly clothes and shoes,” Cresswell said. “The number is on par with last year’s figures. We haven’t seen a big increase in the number of families needing help, so that’s a good thing.”
“During colder winters we serve more, but during milder winters we serve about 30 households on average,” Cresswell said.
More than 80 families are receiving food in the HEC’s food program.
“Now the government said we can give them food once a week if necessary, so we can give families something to carry them over if we have to,” she said.
All of the items available through HEC, whether it’s fuel, food, household items, appliances, clothing, whatever a household might need to persevere through difficult times, are received via donations from businesses, individuals, civic organizations, and local churches.
This year’s parade day barbecue lunch at the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation helped both the Highlands Emergency Council Food Pantry and the Highlands Food Pantry split almost $8,000 in proceeds.
The two food pantries received checks for about $3,900 each, according to Cresswell.
“Each food pantry splits the proceeds fifty-fifty,” she said. “I am so thankful for the help our churches provide us.”
Individuals interested in donating household items can do so at HEC’s 71 Poplar Street location in Highlands from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Monetary donations can be sent to the Highlands Emergency Council, PO Box 974, Highlands, N.C., 28741.
Cresswell said no one will go hungry, or cold, not on her watch.
“Not if I can help it,” she said.