This
article was written by Joyce Smith, who has worked at OPALCO since 1999 as a
Member Services Representative in Friday Harbor and has managed the Project
PAL Program since 2000.
Thanks and a wish . . .
Thank you again, OPALCO members, for your amazing generosity to the Project PAL Program. In the 2002-2003 fiscal year, PAL was able to apply $18,489.04 directly to the electric accounts of 102 qualifying San Juan County families. Most of those funds come from Project PAL members voluntarily letting us round up their monthly bills to the nearest dollar. Thank you very much.
One of my wishes for this PAL year is to help members better understand the need for Project PAL in our community during these cold winter months.
Not only must applicants meet all the guidelines and requirements, but there are also many extenuating circumstances that must be considered. In many cases this winter, illness caused drastically reduced paychecks, and many folks have fallen behind in paying their monthly bills. They just need a little help to get back on their feet. Those with long-term illnesses or disabilities also have difficulty paying their bills, even with help from Social Security and other agencies.
Many single parents struggle to make it on one income. As many of you know, child care can eat up a large portion of a one-income paycheck, and some have told me how difficult it can be to find work that will accommodate the schedules of their children.
A huge concern of ours is that some of our neighbors will go without necessary medications, food, and heat because of their financial situation. The goal of OPALCO, along with other agencies, is to help these people get through the cold winter months.
Did you know that between 80 and 90% of PAL grant recipients also sign up to donate through the PAL roundup program? They truly want to help others, like themselves, who are in need of assistance, and they say it gives them the chance to repay the generosity of those who donate to Project PAL.
Project PAL receives applications from low-income people like seniors, the disabled, single parents and those who have fallen ill or have had other emergencies. Applicants must be members of OPALCO for at least four months, and funds are available to residential members only. Members receiving federal energy assistance are not eligible. Applicants must supply written proof of income for the preceding three months. They can apply up to three times a year or until they have received the maximum of $250 in that year. Eligibility for PAL funds is based on the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.
Between October 2003 and February 2004, PAL awarded almost $16,000 to San Juan County families. While this is unusually high, it’s only an average grant of $186 for each of the 86 members who applied. In previous years, the total awards during the same five-month period was around $7,000. For those having difficulty anyway, this winter’s viruses and the cold weather in December and January put them even further behind in paying their electric bills. We are concerned that we will not have enough funds to help additional applicants through the remaining cold months.
Thank you again to the twenty four percent of our membership now contributing through the monthly round-up program. If you have not yet signed up, would you please consider doing so? You would be helping so many deserving individuals and families. Or, if you prefer, you could give a one-time donation or sign up for a specific monthly amount. It’s also not too late to give a Gift of Power certificate to someone who may be needing help; this certificate enables you to give assistance to a specific family of your choice any time of year.
In closing, please remember that this program is strictly voluntary and is not an obligation. Although OPALCO does the administrative work, and OPALCO community members on the Project PAL Council go through applications and award the grants, 100% of PAL funds goes back to the community. For more information about this great program, please call OPALCO at 376-3550 or 376-3500.
Thank you very much.
