The Salvation Army, Nicor Gas Raising Awareness for Energy and Emergency Assistance Programs During Cold Weather Season at Live Town Hall
As colder temperatures bring on increased energy usage and continued inflation puts pressure on Illinois families who are struggling to make ends meet, The Salvation Army North and Central Illinois Division and Nicor Gas will host a town hall on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. to share programs that are available to fuel hope, deliver relief, and keep families in their homes this winter. The live broadcast, which will include audience Q&A, will be moderated by Aileen Ocana of Univision Chicago and can be viewed at: https://www.salarmychicago.org/live
The Salvation Army and Nicor Gas, who have a long-standing partnership in providing emergency assistance and homeless prevention services, administer three programs: Sharing, Energy Aid, and Shield of Caring, which provide energy assistance and support for basic needs such as rental assistance, groceries, emergency disaster services, and warm winter coats.
In 2021, Nicor Gas granted $5 million to fund the Shield of Caring program, which expects to support more than 45,000 families in 37 Illinois counties serviced by the natural gas utility. The live broadcast will share the impact of these programs and details on how residents who are past due on their utility bills and impacted financial hardships such as job loss, illness, and military deployment can access each of the three programs.
"As we head into colder months, families who are still experiencing financial hardships stemming from the lingering effects of the pandemic and the pressures of inflation will face the increased cost of energy bills as they work to stay warm inside their homes," said Lt. Colonel Lonneal Richardson, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army North and Central Illinois Division. "We are thankful for our continued partnership with Nicor Gas as we work together to provide relief and hope to these families. This live town hall aims to reach those who will benefit from these services and share the impact of this effective corporate and non-profit partnership is having in Illinois."
"At Nicor Gas, we know that the past few years have been an extremely challenging time for our customers," said Meena Beyers, vice president of Business & Community Development at Nicor Gas. "While we cannot control the cost of the gas our customers use, we remain committed to partnering with community organizations to provide relief to our neighbors through energy assistance, energy efficiency programming and The Salvation Army's Shield of Caring."