Give this Holiday Season!

The Salvation Army is having its annual Christmas Fund which raises funds for Christmas packages given to families in need. These packages consist of: three day's worth of food, Christmas dinner, winter clothing, and toys for children. Their goal is $50,000 but unfortunately they have only raised $24,611 so far, and the fund is down 30 percent from last year. So this holiday season please give to a great cause and help support others in the community!

Here's the Delaware County Times article with more information: Salvation Army Christmas Fund

Senate Voted to Repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell

Over the weekend, a major headline resounded throughout the news: the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The repeal is currently awaiting the signature of President Barack Obama who has stated that he does indeed plan on signing it, enacting it into law. This policy was enacted in 1993 as a compromise by President Bill Clinton. Before Don’t Ask Don’t Tell the military’s policy was to exclude homosexual individuals from the military entirely. With Don’t Ask Don’t Tell openly gay men and women are barred from serving in the military.

With the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, homosexuals can now serve openly in the military without fear of being removed from the service. The end of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy is seen by many as a great victory for tolerance, because no longer will the military be discriminating on the basis of race, religion, sex, and now sexual orientation.

What are your opinions on the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’? What was your response to the results of the Senate’s vote? What sort of impact do you think this repeal will have?

Please comment on this blog entry with your thoughts!

This Week's Guest Blogger: Edward Coleman!

Edward T. Coleman is the Chief Executive Officer of Community Action Agency, Inc. of Delaware. This week he shares with us the importance of weatherization and his organization's role in the Weatherization Assistance Program.

With the cold weather of winter having arrived and the economic downturn continuing, many families are looking for ways to reduce their home heating bills. It has become more and more difficult for families and senior citizens to pay these escalating costs. The Weatherization Program provides a cost-effective permanent solution for reducing the heavy energy burden on low-income Americans. The Weatherization Program is also a priority of the federal economic stimulus plan to help make low-income households more energy efficient so there is additional funding available.

The Weatherization Assistance Program in Delaware County is administered by the Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc. (CAADC). The program provides quality energy education and home conservation modifications up to $6,500. On average, the program reduces heating bills by 31%. All services are free of charge.

This program can make a real tangible difference immediately to those already on a strained budget and continue to help them in the future. This is an excellent time to call and get fast service before we get further into winter and the program gets very busy. Delaware County renters and homeowners are eligible to apply as long as they have not had their homes weatherized since September 30, 1994 and meet income eligibility guidelines.

Annual income guidelines currently are:

Family of 1: $21,660

Family of 2: $29,140

Family of 3: $36,620

Family of 4: $44,100

Family of 5: $51,580

Family of 6: $59,060

To apply for the Weatherization Program or for additional information, residents can contact CAADC at (610) 521-8770.

Thank you to Mr. Coleman for contributing to our Blog this week!

Chester City Blog Features United Way's Blog!

Today, the Chester City Blog has recognized United Way's community blog "Live out Loud"! Thank you to local blogger Stefan Roots, author of the Chester City Blog.

You can check out the article here: Chester City Blog

The Weatherization Assistance Program

Because weatherization is vital to enduring the winter months, the federal and state governments run the Weatherization Assistance Program. This program, created in 1976, helps lower energy consumption as well as costs for lower income families. The Weatherization Assistance Program works with states’ LIHEAP (Lower Income Home Energy Assistance Program) so as to help alleviate what is referred to as energy poverty, which is the inability to afford or gain access to energy services such as gas and electricity. According to the Weatherization Assistance Program, families whose houses are weatherized are expected to save $358 on their first year’s utility bills with the program.

Some of the services of the Weatherization Assistance Program are:

- Air sealing to reduce air leakage throughout the home

- Installation of insulation for the home’s attic, walls, basement, and other spaces.

- Replacement or modification of the home’s heating system so as to increase efficiency

- Minor repairs to ensure the health and safety of the home’s residents

- Education for the program recipients on how to increase efficiency throughout the home

In order to be eligible for the Weatherization Assistance Program, you must be a low income individual or family (at or below 200% of the federal poverty level). The program does give priority to the elderly and families with children. Also, before receiving any services, on site audits are conducted to assess the conditions of the home to see which services are necessary.

If you think you or someone you know is eligible for this program, United Way encourages you to apply for the services this program offers. For instructions on how to apply, please call Community Action Agency at (610) 891-5117. Energy poverty is a dangerous condition to your health and the health of your family. So please, help is available and apply for the assistance you need! If you have any questions, feel free to comment on this particular blog entry or email us at info@uwdelco.org

Weatherizing your Home

This past month, temperatures have plummeted and we have even seen a snow flurry or two…it looks like winter is here! Unfortunately, along with colder weather come higher utility bills and some dangerous health risks. If your home is not properly heated you risk not only having your household pipes freeze and burst, but you also risk getting hypothermia and other cold-weather related maladies. In order to ensure the safety of yourself and your family, while saving money on utilities, you should take the proper steps to weatherize your home.

United Way of Southeast Delaware County has a few tips it can share with you. These tips will ensure your house is ready for the inclement winter weather. 1) First of all, you should check that your house is properly insulated. Not only does this ensure that your house is warmer, but it also ensures that you are being more energy efficient. 2) Check the windows to ensure that no air is escaping or entering your home. Also if you have an attic, make sure there is at least 6 inches of insulating fiber lining the ceilings. Go around your home checking for drafty areas and if there are areas that do not seem to be insulated, do not worry because there are some solutions.3) For windows and door cracks, use weather-stripping, a material used to seal these openings. For cracks in ceilings and walls, use foam sealant or caulking to fill in the gaps causing the air to enter or escape your home.

These are just a few tips to start properly preparing your home for these winter months. Throughout the next week, United Way of Southeast Delaware County will be providing you with facts and solutions to ensure that your family is as warm and safe as possible this winter.

The Delaware County Food Resource Guide

In Delaware County there are several organizations that address the hunger needs in our community. These organizations offer residents access to food, as well as provide opportunities to donate and volunteer.Thanks to the help of several Delaware county nonprofits, this information has been captured and organized into a simple resource guide.

Below you will find the Delaware County Food Resource Guide. In this guide you will find a comprehensive a list of all agencies addressing the hunger and nutritional needs of adults, children and families throughout Delaware County.

The Delaware County Food Resource Guide contains the following information:

- Name of the Organization
- Address of the Organization
- How to Contact the Organization
- Hours of Operation
- Type of Services Provided
- How to Apply for these Services
- Who is Eligible for these Services
- If a Referral is Needed for these Services
- What to Bring to your First Visit

Feel free to access the guide here and for further questions call United Way at (610)874-8646

Delaware County Food Resource Guide