The Windham County Heat Fund was created in 2005 by Richard Davis and Daryl Pillsbury to help people in Windham County, Vermont who were not able to buy enough heating fuel to make it through the winter. In 2010 the Heat Fund was incorporated as an IRS 501 C 3 non-profit entity. At the time, oil prices were escalating and we thought our efforts would only be needed for a year or two.
Over the years, we have come to learn that there is a constant need to supplement state and federal fuel assistance programs for those who fall through the cracks and for those who run out of fuel assistance allotments.
In the 21 years of the Heat Fund’s existence we have raised over $1,000,000 from individuals, local businesses and foundations such as the Thomas Thompson Trust and the Willard Trust.
We do not take any payment for our effort and we provide postage and office supplies out of our own pockets for the most part. Most years, our administrative expenses are pretty close to $0.00. We do not give money directly to individuals but we pay for fuel directly to fuel dealers.
How It Works
The fund requires individuals to fill out a one-page application. We review applications and make decisions within 1-2 days, and sometimes within minutes or hours depending on circumstances. We try to vet all applications, working with SEVCA and other local human service organizations. Almost all of the staff at fuel dealers know a lot about the lives of their customers and we rely on them to help us with our mission. They have become an invaluable resource for the heat fund.
In most years, we provide assistance to about 100 individuals/families and receive individual donations from about 100 people. The Heat Fund is able to work with wood, oil, propane and kerosene dealers. If electricity is a primary source of heat, the fund will help with an amount equivalent to other sources of heat. We are also able to provide wood pellets and delivery. The average amount of one-time assistance varies but is generally in the $300 to $500 range.
We look at each application carefully and make decisions based on individual circumstance. People’s lives are complicated and hard and fast rules do not work most of the time.