TO ALL ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS

Braintree, Ma, January 1, 2021 – BELD announces that the Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund (GNEF) is now open to all eligible households.  The Fund helps families and individuals impacted by a temporary crisis, like COVID-19, who don’t qualify for federal or state assistance with the payment of their home energy expenses.  The Good Neighbor Energy Fund’s 36th annual “Give The Gift of Warmth” campaign’s goal is to raise $500,000 and assist more than 1,500 households.

“Families are experiencing a heightened urgency of need for assistance with the payment of their home heating bills due to a combination of colder temperatures and financial difficulties exacerbated by the coronavirus,” said Gail Cohen, BELD Support Services Manager at Braintree Electric Light Department. “With this in mind, we ask all Braintree, MA households in temporary crisis to visit the Fund’s website at www.magoodneighbor.org to determine if they qualify for assistance.”  Cohen added that the Fund has raised more than $22.5 million and assisted over 91,250 households in need with the payment of monthly energy expenses since its inception in 1985.

The Fund is often the last resort for families who do not qualify for federal and state assistance programs. The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division, which administers the Fund for the sponsoring energy companies, pays the energy provider directly for households whose gross income falls between 60 and 80 percent of the state’s median income levels.  For example, a household size of 4 would need to have a total gross yearly income of between $75,202 and $100,268 to qualify. This campaign year’s Fund disbursement is $300 per eligible household per heating season.

To apply to the Fund for assistance, visit your local Salvation Army Corps Community Center – Service Extension Unit or call 800-334-3047 if you live in area codes 508, 617, 781 or 978 or 800-262-1320 if you live in area code 413.

The Fund’s distribution award letter will also serve as qualification for the Mass Save Enhanced Insulation Incentive for customers of a Massachusetts investor-owned utility.  Specifically, the offer provides qualified customers with no-cost insulation, as well as other no-cost energy savings measures.

 Participating energy companies support their respective customers’ generosity through various giving programs.  Braintree, Massachusetts residents who wish to support the Fund can “Give the Gift of Warmth” by using the green-colored Good Neighbor Energy Fund donation envelope found as an insert in BELD’s January energy bills. Customers can also donate on-line by visiting www.magoodneighbor.org or simply mail a check payable to “Good Neighbor Energy Fund” and send it to the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, c/o The Salvation Army, 25 Shawmut Road, Canton, Massachusetts 02021-1408.