Oil Company Steps Up To Help Needy

By GARETH HENDERSON
Staff Reporter

Vermont Standard, July 24, 2008

With a difficult home heating season approaching, a number of individuals and organizations are doing what they can to help those most hurt by high fuel prices.

A spokesperson for Simple Energy told the story of one elderly customer who recently signed up with Simple Energy for his fuel.

"He was paying for his fuel, and we looked up and he had tears in his eyes, and he started crying," the spokesperson said. The man's main concern was how he was going to pay for his heat, food and medicine all at the same time.

It's stories like these that have prompted Simple Energy of West Lebanon and Woodstock to join forces with the LISTEN Center of the Upper Valley to help those most in need. Simple Energy is now accepting $5 donations or more, every cent of which will go to the LISTEN Heating Helpers program. The $5 amount is meant to represent the approximate cost of a gallon of home heating oil. Donors will receive a small green wristband.

In an interview Tuesday, the spokesperson said he hoped the wristbands would help spread the word about the new effort. The Simple Energy spokesperson said this new collaborative effort is not about marketing, but is meant to help those who are struggling the most with pressing heating costs. He said it's an effort to be "socially responsible to the community."

He added that there are people in the area who won't be able to solve the problem on their own.

"There are people whose circumstances are beyond their control," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the interest in Simple Energy's effort with the Listen Center has been growing. He described a recent visit to the Woodstock Rotary Club which he had attended merely to speak about the new effort, but he walked away with $150 in donations.

"The response has been overwhelming," the spokesperson said. The company has not yet counted the donations for a total number.

Anyone who would like to send a donation should make the check out to "Simple Energy c/o Listen Heating Helpers." The mailing address for Simple Energy is 99 North Main Street, West Lebanon, NH, 03784.