Jane, a 75 year old resident of one of the smaller towns in Windham County, had carefully anticipated her wood needs before the heating season as she usually does. Things have been pretty much the same for the past few years. This winter was a little different and there was a lingering cold spell that depleted her wood supply faster than expected.
As the wood pile dwindled she knew she would need another cord to make it through the heating season but she did not have the money to buy another cord. Jane lives on her Social Security income and not much else and she is very careful with her budgeting for all the essentials she needs to survive.
She called 211 and found out about the Windham County Heat Fund. We sent her an application and we were able to contact her wood dealer who was able to bring her one cord, which was enough to keep warm for the rest of the winter. Jane felt that her Vermont pride and self-sufficiency ethic was hurt having to ask for help, but she expressed gratitude for what the heat fund was able to do.