CHAMPLAIN VALLEY —Vermont’s coldest months are here, and many Vermonters are trying to balance the cost of keeping the heat on and putting food on the table. The Warmth Support Program is a safety net, a last resort that will help local families stay safe and warm this winter.

The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s (CVOEO) Warmth Support Program provides emergency funding to help households pay for heating, fuel, and basic electrical needs, preventing life-threatening crises. In addition to financial assistance, CVOEO connects people with vital counseling and wraparound services to help them avoid future emergencies. This program is entirely funded by the community and allows CVOEO to continue providing essential emergency funding and individualized care to strengthen the stability of our communities.

Recognizing the critical need in our community, CVOEO is partnering with Community Bank to launch a match campaign to keep our community warm. Building on CVOEO’s ambitious goal to raise $350,000 for the Warmth Support Program this year, the match campaign aims to empower our community to make a difference, and help our neighbors stay safe and warm throughout the winter.

“The Warmth Support Program saves lives. Program donations help keep homes heated and the lights on for some of the most vulnerable members of our community during the winter months,” Travis Poulin, CVOEO’s Community Action Network, Director, said. “The Program keeps children safe and our seniors warm during the long cold winter nights. Warmth Support Program donations help keep the heat on, help prevent water pipes from freezing and help keep the electricity on for families who need to run oxygen machines and other medical devices.

This year, Community Bank has offered to match donations now through Feb. 28, up to $25,000. The matching offer will double the impact of every dollar donated, bringing CVOEO closer to its ambitious goal, and making it possible to offer even more relief to those struggling to stay warm.

“As Vermonters, we are all familiar with the frigid temperatures that hit our region during the winter months,” Community Bank Regional President, Matt Durkee, said. “Having heat is not a luxury for our communities, it’s a necessity, and we encourage you to join us in helping our neighbors in need. CVOEO does a fantastic job at connecting those in need with the resources available to help them stay safe, especially during the winter, and we’re honored to be partnering with them again this year.”

Last year, the Warmth Support Program provided emergency assistance to 3,227 neighbors in the Champlain Valley. Thanks to the generous support of donors, CVOEO was able to help prevent heating and utility crises, keeping children safe, seniors warm, and families in their homes through the coldest months of the year.

The Warmth Support Program has been a crucial resource for over 35 years, providing emergency heating assistance in collaboration with the state’s Seasonal and Crisis Fuel Assistance programs.

Learn more and give the gift of warmth at www.cvoeo.org/warmth.