AmeriCares HomeFront and Area Businesses Bring Warmth to Local Families

AmeriCares Foundation
Thursday, 24 February 2000

Responding to the needs of two area families who were facing a winter without heat, AmeriCares' HomeFront and Connecticut Refining Corp. of West Haven joined forces to beat the cold. A single mother in New Haven, with two school age children, was saddled with a malfunctioning furnace and insufficient income to repair or replace it as winter loomed. Similarly, in Bridgeport, a working mother with one son still at home was desperate as her furnace refused to give off any significant heat. Leslie Adams of Lansing Street was worried that her old and leaky furnace would not get her family through the winter.

HomeFront learned of these situations and decided to take action. HomeFront enlisted the aid of Connecticut Refining, who along with Heating Oil Partners LLP of Darien, installed new furnaces in both homes in time to keep the families warm as the severe cold winter weather hit. Connecticut Refining donated the furnace for Ms. Adams in Bridgeport and the furnace for the home in New Haven was donated by R. E. Michel, Inc. of Stratford. For several years, Connecticut Refining Corp. and Heating Oil Partners LLP have worked with AmeriCares, donating materials and labor to meet emergency heating needs. This year the work of these companies made a concrete difference in the lives of these two families. Leslie Adams expressed her gratitude with her heartfelt thanks to Bill McDermott of Connecticut Refining and the HomeFront staff, "Thank you for fixing my furnace. God bless y'all, God bless you, God bless you."

These emergency projects constitute only a small part of the work of AmeriCares' HomeFront. HomeFront's work is not primarily in emergency response, but rather in preparing for its annual HomeFront Day on the first Saturday in May. Planning is underway for HomeFront 2000, which will take place on May 6, in which over 8,000 volunteers will fan out over 66 cities and towns in Connecticut and New York to make free repairs to more than 170 homes and community centers. A team of volunteers will undertake bathroom repairs, gutter repairs, repairs to the front porch and will provide a fresh coat of exterior paint. Last year's HomeFront Day saw 1,050 volunteers in New Haven repair 16 homes and 2 community centers in need of renovations. That same Saturday, 1080 volunteers on 28 teams improved 18 private homes and 5 community centers in Bridgeport that needed repair. Volunteers are still needed for HomeFront 2000.

AmeriCares HomeFront is a community-wide "circle of caring" with volunteer teams supported by hundreds of sponsoring companies; religious, educational and civic organizations; community development and foundations grants; donated city services; and individual gifts. Assistance for each project also comes from donated products, building materials, services and professional help.

For more information, or to contact AmeriCares Foundation, see their website at: www.americares.org