Tag Archives: Walk for Warmth

After a two-hear hiatus, Walk for Warmth returns

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health, Kent County,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

The Kent County Community Action’s 2023 Walk for Warmth will take place March 4. (Pxhere.com)

On average, households will pay 12.7 percent more for home heating this winter, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association (NEADA), which means more people may struggle to pay their heating bills.

With that in mind, the Kent County Community Action will bring back its Walk for Warmth event, designed to raise awareness and funds for heating fuel assistance programs.

 

“All of the money raised from this event will go straight to people who need help in keeping their utilities on,” said Gustavo Perez, the director of the Kent County Community Action.

The Walk for Warmth is a statewide event with local communities usually hosting the walk in February. The Ottawa County Community Action Agency hosted its event at the beginning of February. The Kent County Walk for Warmth is set for March 4. Participants will meat at 8:30 a.m. at the Kent County Community Action (KCCA) offices, 121 Martin Luther King Jr. St., Suite 110. The walk starts at 9 a.m. and will travel the block around the KCCA offices, which is Martin Luther king Jr. Street to Sheldon Avenue to Sycamore Street to Jefferson Avenue.

According to a recent report from NEADA, the national rate of utility arrearages (the amount of money families are behind on their electric and gas bills) is at about $16.6 billion since the end of the last winter season. About 20.8 million households, that is about one out of six, owed an average of $791. This is up slightly from June 2022 when the total arrearage place stood at about $16.3 billion and the average amount owed was about $783.

Closer to home, Perez said he is still compiling the 2022 numbers however, in 2021, Kent County Community Action helped more than 4,000 houses with gas, electric and water.

The Kent County Community Action provides a number of programs to Kent County residents, one of which is the Utility Assistance Program. Residents do need to qualify for the assistance.

In the past, when people did no qualify, Walk for Warmth funds were used, however; due to the COVID pandemic, KCCA was not able to host the walk for the past two years with the Walk for Warmth fund currently unavailable to assist homeowners.

“What this allows is for raised funds to help close the gap for those who cannot keep the utilities on in their homes,” Perez said.

The goal for this year’s event is to assistant more than 20 households, which means the 2023 Walk for Warmth would need to raise around $10,000.

“We are working with people who are facing shut-off, so we are only helping them get caught up so they can keep the heat on,” Perez said. “We are not paying for a single home’s heat for a year, but only the amount to make sure the heat does not get turned off.”

Those interested in participating in the walk or donating can register online at accesskent.com/departemtns/communityaction/walk_for_warmth.htm or click here. 

Creating a community that cares

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Education, Non-Profits, Volunteers, , ,

 

By ACSET Community Action Agency

 

Each year, ACSET Community Action holds it Walk for Warmth to raise funds for emergency heating assistance for low-income families in Kent County. And each year, students at Sibley Elementary participate in activities to support the walk and help their neighbors in need.

 

For more than 10 years, second graders engaged in the social studies unit Learning About Communities, have worked together to make positive changes in their community. The students, known as the “Sibley Warmth Force,” write letters to local businesses to ask for donations for the annual Walk for Warmth.

 

“Our studies focus on citizenship and building community,” explained Bernice Wisnieski, a second grade teacher at Sibley. “This service project is an awesome way to bring the lesson to life.”

 

This year the second grade students wanted a way to get the entire school involved. They worked with the principal and scheduled the first Sibley Walk-a-thon for Warmth. Along with the Walk for Warmth on February 11th, all students at Sibley Elementary took turns walking on March 14, holding signs with the names of businesses that helped support the cause. Many of the older students remembered this project from past years and were excited to participate again.

 

In addition to the walk-a-thon, the students made and sold fleece blankets and brought in pennies for a total of almost $2,000 in donations. ACSET Community Action is grateful to the students for their hard work and warm hearts; to the businesses for their generous donations; and to the Sibley teachers for creating a community that cares for those less fortunate.

 

Your Community in Action! is provided by ASCET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, visit www.communityactionkent.org

‘Walk for Warmth’ utility assistance program fundraiser surpasses goal

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, , ,

 

By ACSET Community Action Agency

 

For 21 years, ACSET Community Action Agency (CAA) has hosted the Walk for Warmth in Kent County. The Walk for Warmth is a statewide effort to raise funds to help low-income households pay their utility bills and avoid shut-offs. ACSET CAA surpassed their goal this year by raising more than $20,000. All money raised at the Kent County event will stay in Kent County to assist families through CAA’s utility assistance program.

 

“The funds raised by the walk are critical as they allow us to serve more Kent County residents and reach vulnerable households that might not meet the criteria of some of our other programs,” said Susan Cervantes, Associate Director of ACSET CAA.

 

Walk for Warmth donations make it possible for more families to get the help they need. These families won’t have to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table.

 

Consumers Energy is a longtime supporter of Walk for Warmth events across the state. A large group of their employees gathered pledges and joined the Kent County walk again this year. Consumers Energy then matched all individual pledges that were received. Dan Malone, the company’s senior vice president of energy resources participated in the walk.

 

“The Grand Rapids walk was one of over 30 that we are participating in across Michigan, and I was happy to be a participant. I was encouraged by our strong employee support and those in the community who took time during their Saturday morning to help others,” Malone said.
This year’s event took place on Saturday, Feb. 11. The date was officially proclaimed Walk for Warmth Day 2017 by Grand Rapids Mayor, Rosalyn Bliss, and Kent County Commissioner, Carol Hennessy who both attended the event.

 

Warm a heart and a home: The 21st Annual Walk for Warmth is Feb. 11

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Kids Activities, Non-Profits, Upcoming Events, , ,

 

By ACSET Community Action Agency

 

For 20 years, a group of compassionate individuals has bundled up on a cold Saturday morning in the middle of winter to walk. Why? The walkers brave the cold so less-fortunate families don’t have to. They walk for warmth!

 

The Walk for Warmth is a statewide effort to help low-income households avoid utility shut-offs and keep their homes warm. ACSET Community Action Agency (CAA) will host the 21st annual walk in Kent County on Saturday, Feb. 11 in Grand Rapids.

 

Energy costs take up a greater portion of the household budgets of lower-income families than those of higher-income families. The increased burden on lower-income households reduces the amount of income left for basic needs like food, housing and healthcare. Last year, ACSET CAA provided over $1 million in utility payment assistance for homes in Kent County.

 

Hundreds of residents in our community struggle to pay their utility bills, and the need for assistance outweighs ACSET CAA’s ability to help. Every dollar raised through Walk for Warmth directly helps local families in need.

 

Want to help? Walk for Warmth offers a variety of ways to get involved:

  • Become a sponsor. Sponsors will receive recognition of their support in marketing materials and the day of the event. Businesses can connect their brand with a truly heart-warming event. Learn more about sponsor opportunities here.
  • Sell mittens. Contact a Walk for Warmth representative (give a phone number or email) and ask for a supply of “mittens.” The mittens are $1 each; write the name of the person purchasing the mitten and display at your office or business.
  • Get competitive. Hold a chili cook-off or cookie bake-off at your work, school or church. For a small donation ($5), tasters can vote on their favorite.
  • Give an in-kind donation. Consider making a donation of coffee, hot chocolate, juice, water, bagels, donuts or other refreshments for walkers on the day of the event.
  • Join the walk! Ask friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, etc. to join you or support you with a pledge. You can find a pledge form on ACSET CAA’s website by clicking here.

Event Details:

 

Date: Saturday, February 11, 2017

 

Time: 8 am Registration; 9 am Walk Kick Off

 

Where: ACSET Westside Complex

215 Straight Ave NW

Grand Rapids, MI 49504

 

The Walk for Warmth is an annual event, hosted by Community Action Agencies across the country, to raise funds for heating assistance for low-income households. Learn more: http://communityactionkent.org/walk-for-warmth-2017/

 

Your Community in Action! is provided by ACSET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, visit www.communityactionkent.org.