Webster Five is helping the Worcester Community Action Council’s (WCAC) Emergency Fuel Fund get ahead of the cold with its recent donation of $25,000. This contribution marks the first significant gift the Fund has received for the 2023-24 heating season. 

As winter approaches and the demand for emergency heating assistance grows, WCAC is working to ensure that some of the most vulnerable households in the region – seniors, disabled individuals, veterans, and families with young children – have access to this basic necessity during challenging times.

Last year, WCAC received a total of 16,000 applications, representing a 44% increase in new and first-time applicants and a 20% increase in applications overall. Webster Five’s donation in 2022 supported approximately 60 households with emergency fuel deliveries, among nearly 1,200 households WCAC served with emergency utility payments over the course of the year.

WCAC anticipates an equally busy season with a significant demand from the community, having already received 6,000 applications prior to the program opening on November 1. With federal funds still awaiting release and WCAC’s emergency fund having been completely depleted, WCAC was left with limited resources to address the growing needs of Central and South-Central Massachusetts residents.

“At Webster Five, we’re committed to investing in our community and supporting our neighbors during times of need,” said Don Doyle, President and CEO, Webster Five. “By making this donation early in the season, we hope to help WCAC get a jump start on funding for what is likely to be thousands of requests. We’re proud to support this organization and the important work they do.”

“We are exceedingly grateful for Webster Five’s ongoing support of WCAC and the Emergency Fuel Fund,” said WCAC Chief Executive Officer Marybeth Campbell. “This donation comes at a critical time when our resources are stretched thin and will make a lasting impact on the lives of families in our community who are facing no-heat emergencies.”

“As a board member of WCAC, I’ve had the privilege of seeing the significant contributions this organization makes every year to vulnerable households in our community,” said Brian Westerlind, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Webster Five. “I’m thrilled that Webster Five has continued to be an active partner of the Fuel Assistance Program.