O&R's Neighbor Fund Offers Bill Payment Help

PEARL RIVER, NY December 4, 2007 — Remember, this winter, that unexpected misfortune respects no wealth or position or status. A financial reversal, an unexpected medical problem, an accident or any other kind of emergency could happen to any one of us. That's why the emergency help that The Neighbor Fund has offered the community for more than 20 years is so vitally important.

The Neighbor Fund provides critical home-heating assistance for those O&R customers who find themselves unable to pay their home heating fuel bills because of emergency financial conditions.

Since 1983, the Fund has awarded over $3.3 million in grants to more than 14,300 households enduring financial hardship.

Last year, O&R made over 300 grants totaling more than $100,000. Half that grant total comes from O&R customers' contributions. That amount is matched dollar-for-dollar by the shareholders of Consolidated Edison, Inc., O&R's parent company.

The Neighbor Fund provides a one-time grant for electric customers of $250 and for heating fuel customers of $250.

Grants from The Neighbor Fund are awarded to pay for home energy costs no matter what type of fuel is used — electricity, oil, natural gas, propane, wood or coal. The grant money does not have to be repaid, and there are no age limits or income guidelines to be met.

To qualify for The Neighbor Fund grant, individuals must have an account with O&R and must already have exhausted all governmental resources available for financial assistance. They must also provide supporting documentation of emergency/crisis circumstances (medical bills, unemployment notification, etc.)

The Salvation Army administers The Neighbor Fund program, evaluates Neighbor Fund applications and makes the grants.

If you need The Neighbor Fund's assistance, please contact The Salvation Army offices in Spring Valley, 352-9577, Middletown, 343-0821 or Port Jervis, 856-3214 or The Neighbor Fund community outreach centers at RCDC, 352-1400, Kiryas Joel Social Services, 783-7656, Village of Kiryas Joel Community Service, 783-8300 and the Community Outreach Center at 356-9600 or the Community Action Program of Rockland at its Spring Valley office, 352-4167 or its Haverstraw office, 429-9241.