During the past several months, energy costs have risen at an unprecedented rate.  We have seen it at the gasoline pumps and when we have filled up our fuel tanks with heating oil, kerosene or propane.  We have also seen these rising energy costs in the bills we receive for our electricity or for natural gas. Even wood for the cook stove or wood stove is more expensive.

This is not news for most of us, but as the cost of all sources of energy has increased dramatically, there are people in our community who simply cannot afford to pay these higher prices.  There are a lot of our friends and neighbors who have to make choices between buying their medicine or buying enough food for their family or paying the fuel bills to keep their homes warm.

The Town has come up with a program which may be helpful.  We would like to offer our citizens an opportunity to join the Heat and Energy Assistance Team, or HEAT for short.  To join this team and help others in our community, people may donate funds to the Town for the HEAT Program.  The Town in turn will give these funds to the Haywood Christian Ministries or the Salvation Army with the understanding that the money will be used to assist people with their fuel or energy bills.  The Town will keep a record of all donations made and since the contributions are tax deductible, the Town will provide people with a letter acknowledging the donation at the end of the calendar year.  Those interested in joining the Heat and Energy Assistance Team may add any amount to their check when paying their utility bill to the Town of Waynesville or just send a donation to the Town and specify that it is for the HEAT Program.  There is no limit to the amount you might donate, and you may add a donation to your utility bill each month if you would like to do so.

If you have questions on this, please call us at 828-452-2491.  We hope that you are able to help others in our community and that you will join HEAT today.