The generous people and companies that support the Pictou County Fuel Fund were celebrated at the organization’s recent Annual General Meeting. Because these individuals, organizations, and others care, 289 families received support this past heating season.
“We have had exceptional assistance from the community,” said chairperson Glennie Langille.
Curtain Call Players and Backstage Brewing Company were both presented with the Tim Horton’s Community Award, which is given to a business, individual or community organization that planned an event with the intent to donate funds to the Fuel Fund. The award was named for the Tim Horton’s restaurants in Pictou County, in recognition of the generous contributions made from its Smile Cookie Campaign over the years.
In May, Curtain Call Players staged two performances of Crooks, Cash, and Chaos, with the proceeds going to the Fuel Fund. This is the second year that the local theatre group partnered with PCFF to raise funds.
In January, Backstage Brewing Company hosted a music afternoon, with donations collected to support the Fuel Fund.
Three organizations received the Award of Merit, which recognizes individuals, businesses and community organizations for their outstanding contribution to the Fuel Fund by repeated significant financial contributions. The recipients were: S.W. Weeks Construction, the Masonic Foundation, and the Town of New Glasgow, which donated money it collected from parking metres in the downtown during the month of December.
Maritime Design was presented with the Ambassadors Award, which is awarded to a business, individual or community organization that furthers the work of the Fuel Fund. Maritime Design updated and redesigned PCFF’s website free of charge, which Langille noted was “a truly generous act.”
The Impact Award is a new award that replaced the Founders Award that was given in past years. It is given to an individual who has had a powerful impact on the Fuel Fund and the community. This year’s recipient was George MacLellan, PCFF’s past chairperson, in recognition of his leadership, commitment, and dedication to the volunteer group.
PCFF is a charitable organization that raises funds to provide oil, wood, propane, or wood pellets once per heating season to those who find themselves in emergency situations, with an aim to ensure that “No One Should Go Cold in Pictou County.”
Langille noted that a report released by the Energy Poverty Task Force last fall found that 43 per cent of Nova Scotians experience energy poverty. “That means they spend more than six per cent of after-tax income on home energy. Energy poverty has a profound impact on individuals and families.”
She added that a companion study (in part conducted by Nova Scotia Power) found that 23 per cent of respondents have recently experienced issues keeping their home heated, with 17 per cent having issues keeping electricity on, and 13 per cent of respondents experiencing both challenges.
For these respondents experiencing challenges, the consequences are serious: 72 per cent had to delay spending on other essential items, 61 per cent built up debt, 46 per cent experienced late payments, 40 per cent missed payments, 17 per cent received a notice of disconnection from an energy company and eight per cent reported their electricity was disconnected.
“These are people that we aim to help,” said Langille. “We can’t do everything, but what we do, it matters.”
