The Salvation Army office in Charlottetown has approved approximately 200 applications for assistance for residents of Queens and Kings Counties, while the Summerside office has approved approximately 100 applications for Prince County so far this winter. The program offers emergency home heating assistance to low-income Islanders by providing a maximum of 450 litres of home heating fuel once per year.

The Department of Social Services and Seniors donated $200,000 to the fuel program in December and Minister Doug Currie encouraged local businesses and community organizations to do their part to help.

“I am thrilled to see that the community is coming together and talking about what all of us can do to assist our neighbours,” said Minister Currie. “The members of the Rotary Club of Hillsborough have always been strong community players, and their generosity and leadership is commendable. On behalf of Prince Edward Island, I thank them for their support.”

Major Carlotta Thornhill of the Salvation Army in Charlottetown said there is still a strong need for more tax-deductible donations from the business community and the public.

“We are very busy and the phones are ringing all the time with people wanting to make an application,” said Major Thornhill. “We have received some very generous donations from the community, but the winter is only half over and many more Islanders still need assistance.”

For more information or to donate to the Salvation Army Fuel Program, contact its Charlottetown office at (902) 892-8870 or in Summerside at (902) 888-3870.