Keep the Heat On

A message from Bishop Tobin:

‘When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.’

November, 2010

With these words of the Gospel, the Lord reminds us of our call to help those in need, and to do so without concern for our own reward. Thanks to generous donations, since it was launched in 2005 ‘Keep the Heat On’ has provided over $1 million in heating assistance to thousands of Rhode Island households. Please accept my sincere gratitude for all you have done to make this effort a tremendous success.

Facing now the prospect of another cold winter and a costly heating season, we know that several thousand families have already had their utilities terminated for non-payment of heating bills and thousands more will be forced to make difficult and often times dangerous decisions with respect to heating their homes. It is important that we reach out to help our brothers and sisters in need here in Rhode Island.

If you know of someone who may be eligible for Keep the Heat On assistance, please click here.

This year, the Catholic Charity Fund will match, dollar for dollar, up to $25,000 all donations to the ‘Keep the Heat On’ campaign. Those who wish to donate in support of this effort can click here to make an online donation or click here to make a contribution by mail. All donations are deductible for tax purposes.

This fund will not address all the problems Rhode Islanders in need will face this winter. However, in conjunction with other assistance programs and in collaboration with the state and federal government, perhaps we will make a difference for at least some of our brothers and sisters.

Sincerely yours,

Thomas J. Tobin
Bishop of Providence