Winter Park City Talk

As we come to the end of 2010 and start 2011, I’d like to take this opportunity to ask you to reflect on the past year and the many blessings we celebrated.

Whether we enjoyed some of life’s milestones, the birth of a child, the graduation of a nephew, or the move into a new home, 2010 has different meanings for all of us. Unfortunately, for many, the holiday season and past year were very difficult times, especially as the economy and our own personal finances continue to struggle.

Below are two stories of real people, real families in need, which I hope will inspire you to participate in the city’s Emergency Utility Assistance Fund program. We never know what the future holds for any of us and the scary truth is we can suddenly find ourselves in this same situation. These stories could easily be ours, so the need to help is real and great.

Potential recipient No. 1: “I am a single mom. I had a great job and was unexpectedly laid off. All of a sudden, I was unemployed with three young, hungry mouths to feed. After seven long months, I finally found employment making much less than I made before, which was something but not enough. I could barely make ends meet.”

Potential Recipient No. 2: “I am a hard-working mother of four – suddenly my hours were reduced at work. Unable to continue providing, I agreed to temporarily give custody of my children to their father. I was hoping to find other jobs to supplement my income, but unfortunately this did not happen fast enough; the bills were piling up and soon I was left without electricity. I have always provided for my family and have always been financially stable – I couldn’t believe this was happening to me.”

Our friends and neighbors right here in Winter Park are suffering, and we can’t ignore the fact that members of our community need us.

Recognizing this desperate need in 2006, the City of Winter Park, established an Emergency Utility Assistance Fund through Heart of Florida United Way’s (HFUW) 2-1-1 Information and Referral Helpline. This fund gives all of us the opportunity to help our neighbors during times of unexpected tragedy or emergencies.

Just this past year alone, a total of 129 Winter Park families requested over $33,000 in utility assistance through HFUW’s Emergency Fund Network agencies. With less than $4,800 currently available, it is predicted that there will be a shortage of over $28,000 in funds to cover assistance for Winter Park requests alone. This means that there is a possibility that more than 107 Winter Park families already suffering from a death, illness or unemployment may be unable to receive assistance. It’s hard enough dealing with a tragic emergency, but your donation will help ease the burden of paying the utility bills for a family to keep the lights on and the water running during life’s unexpected tragedies.

Your donation of any amount can help turn this around. By just giving a small amount each month via your utility bill, the funds in the account can grow exponentially if every utility customer was able to donate something. Not all of us can afford to donate thousands of dollars towards the program, but most of us are able to donate at least one dollar a month without much hardship. If you are able, here is how you can donate:

-Submit the application online via the city’s website at www.cityofwinterpark.org > Online Forms & Resources > Emergency Utility Assistance Program.

-Call 407-599-3220.

-Donate while paying your utility bill online via the city’s website.

For more information about the Emergency Utility Assistance program, please call the City of Winter Park Customer Service Line at 407-599-3220.

Please donate, it could be you in need of assistance next time. If you are a City of Winter Park utility customer in need of assistance, please call United Way 2-1-1 to get help.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

-On Tuesday, Jan. 11 is Winter Park Chamber of Commerce’s annual Mayor/City Commission Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at the Rachel D. Murrah Civic Center. Call 407-644-8281

-On Thursday, Jan. 13, the City of Winter Park Town Meeting is at 7 p.m. at the Rachel D. Murrah Civic Center. Call 407-599-3428

Visit the city’s official website at www.cityofwinterpark.org, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.