Heating assistance program helping many

WOONSOCKET, R.I.—Monique Durden is a working single mother of two.

An unexpected injury a short while back left her off the job for a month and a half and unable to pay to heat her home.

Until someone told her about the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence’s Keep the Heat On campaign. The program is designed to help people pay to heat their homes in the winter.

“The help is a Godsend. I really felt bad because I had no other resources,“ Durden said.

“When it really gets cold and we get into the holidays and after the first of the year, people respond even more generously,“ said the Most Rev. Thomas Tobin, Bishop of Providence. “But so far so good, we’re off to a good start despite the very challenging economic times in which we are all living.“

Over the last three years, the program has raised a total of $600,000 and helped about 2,000 families.

“I think it’s predictable the need will be very high this year. It’s affecting everybody across our community and across our society,“ Tobin said. “The social service needs are enormous, but I think everybody is going to do their best to respond to our neighbors.“

Neighbors like Durden who is back at work and getting back on her feet. She said it’s something she couldn’t have done without the program.

“Thank God for the people who give donations because you don’t know until you’re in that position and you need it,“ she said.