Ozark Living

By Dave Woods Special to Ozark Living Magazine Margaret Allen didn't let pride stop her from looking for a little help from Black Hills Energy's Hearts Warming Homes program. "I felt bad about doing it," the Washington County grandmother of three said. "I've never had to do anything like that, but when it came down to my grandchildren who had nothing when they moved in with me, I had to reach out to somebody." Margaret, who requested her real name not be disclosed, swallowed her pride and reached out to several organizations before finding the help she desperately needed. "e Salvation Army helped me with clothes for my grandchildren," she explained. "ey have been helping with food and my electric bill." Hearts Warming Homes is a Black Hills Energy initiative that provides support for the Salvation Army, with whom they partner, to administer the program and connect Arkansans in need with financial assistance. rough the Black Hills Cares program, customers may donate and have their donations matched by the company. Donations may be made directly or when paying a gas service bill. In 2017, more than $45,398 was donated by Black Hills Energy and its natural gas customers around the state, and 228 families representing 593 individuals received assistance. Amiee York, community affairs program manager with Black Hills Energy, is proud of the company and their customers who donate to the program. "At Black Hills Energy, our mission is to improve life with energy," Amiee said. "We do that in many ways through the natural gas service we provide, but it's also important to do what we can to improve the lives of those in need. Our partnership with the Salvation Army allows Black Hills Energy and its customers to assist our neighbors with their energy needs, helping to keep them warm, enabling them to provide hot meals for their families and giving them piece of mind in difficult times. We appreciate the Salvation Army for the work they do to administer the program and our customers who so generously donate to help their fellow citizens." A salvation Joshua Robinett, the Northwest Arkansas Salvation Army area commander, said partnering with Black Hills on Hearts Warming Homes fulfills an important part of their mission. "e mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs without discrimination," the commander said. "at's the broad mission statement. e needs being met differ in every community. ey differ because those needs depend on what other organizations are doing to help out. e Salvation Army does our very best to find the gaps in services and meet those critical needs." e commander calls the program a type of "homeless prevention service." "ere are so many around the region that live paycheck to paycheck," he said. "In many cases they may be just one paycheck away from being homeless. Programs like Hearts Warming Homes allow us to help with a utility bill to stabilize a family and may prevent them from becoming homeless. It's a win-win for the community and the individual we serve." When someone becomes homeless it's so much harder to climb up out of that experience," he said. "It's better to do the preventative work the program does. It plays a vital role for folks in Northwest Arkansas who are living on fixed incomes. Programs like Hearts Warming Homes are so important." Black Hills cares improving life for those in need Black Hills Cares helps eligible customers in need pay their Black Hills Energy bills or emergency energy-related expenses. e program uses voluntary tax- deductible donations from our customers and employees. We match those contributions dollar for dollar. In the past 10 years, Black Hills Cares provided more than $4 million in customer, employee and company donations to assist those in need. How you can help To give, check the box on your payment stub to indicate the donation of your choice. • If you select the Round Up option, we'll automatically round up your monthly bill to the next dollar and donate the difference. • e recurring monthly donation is another great way you can help. Select a donation amount on your payment stub or write in an amount that fits your budget in the "Other" field. • You can also make a one-time donation with your monthly bill payment. Just write in your donation amount in the "One-time" field on your payment stub. • If you donate through Round Up or a recurring monthly amount, we'll add that amount to your utility bill until you let us know to discontinue your enrollment. If at any time you want to stop your donation, call us at 888-890-5554. There are so many around the region that live paycheck to paycheck. In many cases they may be just one paycheck away from being homeless. " " - Joshua Robinett

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