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PROP is here for Cumberland County families struggling with heating bills this winter!

PROP is the agency that signs families up for the Federal Fuel Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in Cumberland County. We are very concerned about the escalating price of fuel and the many families that fall through the cracks of the existing programs. For the past few years we have worked to secure private donations to augment the federal program so that we may serve families that are over income for the traditional program or provide a supplemental benefit to those who have exhausted their LIHEAP benefit but it hasn’t stretched far enough. This private program is called Keep ME Warm. This is how it works:

Donations are tax deductible because PROP is a private non profit 501 (c ) 3.
Keep ME Warm serves households up to 80% of the area median income.
We provide up to a $400 benefit.
We use the funds as needed: order fuel, fix minor heating system problems, stop a shut off of electricity, etc.
Groups may target their funds to a specific area or type of client,( i.e. seniors, a town or city).
If a donor specifies for it to go outside of Cumberland County then we will see that it gets to one of the other 9 Community Action Agencies in Maine.

Funds can be mailed to PROP/Keep ME Warm, 510 Cumberland Avenue, Portland Maine, 04103 or we would be happy to come to a group and give an update on how folks are faring in the colder weather and accept the check on behalf of the fund.

We are experiencing a tremendous amount of need for assistance this year. In all of the years we have been helping families with their energy needs, we have not seen this level of fear and panic. People are afraid of the prices and how they will heat their homes. We have already taken over 3000 applications since July and continue to receive 300 calls a day. One third of our applicants are folks who have never applied before. We envision topping 5000 families in Cumberland County alone.

 

 

 

Thank you Norway Savings Bank!

Brian Desjardins, VP/Branch Manager of Norway Savings Bank presents a gift from Norway Savings Bank to Suzanne McCormick, PROP's President and CEO. PROP is please to consider Norway Savings Bank a strong partner in our work to have a Cumberland County "free from poverty and full of hope".

Thank you Key Bank!

Lynn McGrath, PROP's Kids Katering, Jim Poznik, Sr. VP Key Bank, Zoe Miller, PROP's Parkside Neighborhood Center, Charlie Kennedy, Key Bank, Suzanne McCormick PROP's President and CEO, and Bruce Murphy, President of Community Development Banking at Key Bank meet at PROP's Parkside Neighborhood Center in Portland. Key Bank presented a grant to PROP's Parkside Neighborhood Center to help teach families about nutrition and to encourage families to eat nutritional meals together.

 

 

 

 

TD Banknorth Makes Lead Contribution of $20,000 to "Keep ME Warm" program to help Mainers with fuel assistance...

Portland, ME - TD Banknorth, through the TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation, has donated $20,000 to the “Keep ME Warm” initiative to assist Mainers who need help with their fuel bills to stay warm this winter. Donations to Keep ME Warm are also being accepted at TD Banknorth branches throughout the state. Already, over $50,000 has been raised through donations collected at branches this winter.

The company is a lead partner in the Keep Me Warm initiative, a public and private collaboration that provides home heating resources to Maine’s low and moderate income residents who are most impacted by the rising costs of home heating oil.

“We saw how necessary our support was last year with over 48,000 households served by Keep Me Warm,” said Larry Wold, President of TD Banknorth in Maine. “With the projected need going even higher this year, TD Banknorth and its employees want to do what we can for our neighbors. To make it easy for our customers who are similarly concerned, donations are being accepted at our branches throughout the state.”

“TD Banknorth has been such a strong partner in the Keep Maine Warm initiative since its inception. The bank’s generosity will enable Community Action Agencies across the state to help families in need who have no where else to turn,” said Suzanne McCormick, CEO of PROP, Cumberland County’s Community Action Agency.

Funds collected are distributed to local agencies helping citizens with heating assistance. To donate, visit a TD Banknorth branch, call 1-800-393-7175 or visit www.mainecommunityaction.org.

About TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation: The TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation is the charitable giving arm of TD Banknorth Inc., a leading banking and financial services company headquartered in Portland, Maine. The Foundation’s mission is to serve the individuals, families and businesses in all the communities where TD Banknorth operates, having made over $29.7 million in charitable donations since its inception in 2002. The efforts of the Foundation are coordinated locally through TD Banknorth’s community development department and are focused on the areas of economic empowerment, youth development and community support. More information on the TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation including an online grant application is available at www.TDBanknorth.com.

About TD Banknorth Inc.: TD Banknorth Inc. is a leading banking and financial services company headquartered in Portland, Maine, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of TD Bank Financial Group headquartered in Toronto, Canada. TD Banknorth is one of the 25 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States, with over $58 billion in assets. TD Banknorth's banking subsidiaries include TD Banknorth, N.A., which operates banking divisions in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont, and TD Bank USA, N.A. TD Banknorth and TD Banknorth, N.A. also operate subsidiaries and divisions in insurance, wealth management, merchant services, mortgage banking, government banking, private label credit cards, insurance premium financing and other financial services, and offers investment products in association with PrimeVest Financial Services, Inc. For more information, visit http://www.TDBanknorth.com.

Larry Wold, President, TD Banknorth in Maine; Suzanne McCormick, President, People's Regional Opportunity Program.

 

 

 

Thank you U.S. Cellular!

MAYOR SUSLOVIC JOINS U.S. CELLULAR TO AWARD
$23,719 GRANT TO PEOPLE’S REGIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM

Wireless Company Provides Grant to Fund Senior Companion Program

PORTLAND, Maine., Jan. 4, 2008— Mayor Ed Suslovic joined U.S. Cellular in presenting a $23,719 donation to People’s Regional Opportunity Program (PROP). The organization is a community action agency committed to identifying and addressing social, economic, educational and health needs existing in Maine.
“U.S. Cellular has proven to be one of Portland’s best community citizens,” said Mayor Ed Suslovic. “This grant will ensure that PROP can continue to provide valuable services to Portland’s seniors, families and youth. The generosity of U.S. Cellular will make a large impact on the lives of many Portland seniors.”
The grant will help fund the Senior Companion Program, where senior volunteers work with social workers from the Southern Maine Agency on Aging, the City of Portland’s Office of Elder Affairs and other senior-related organizations in southern Maine to support the independence of frail and vulnerable seniors. Senior Companions are individuals age 60 and over who volunteer to aid other seniors in leisure activities, assist them with grocery shopping, accompany them to medical appointments, or just visit with them in their home. Senior Companions may also provide short periods of relief to primary caregivers.
“At U.S. Cellular, we are committed to supporting the communities we serve,” said Eric Conlon, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in New England. “We are proud to support PROP with not only this grant, but other donations and sponsorships throughout the year, such as sponsorship of the Maine Youth Action Network’s annual conference, as well as providing more than 200 volunteer hours in 2007. Their work truly makes a difference in the lives of the people they serve.” Since 2004, U.S. Cellular has awarded more than $140,000 in charitable funds to nonprofits serving economically disadvantaged youth, families and seniors throughout Maine, including nearly $100,000 in Portland.
“With this generous grant from U.S. Cellular we will be able to recruit more Senior Companions in order to grow the program and serve more individuals,” said Suzanne McCormick, executive director for PROP. “With the help of generous corporate partners such as U.S. Cellular we are able to affect positive change and deliver valuable services to the Portland community.”

About U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular is the nation's sixth-largest wireless service carrier, providing wireless service to six million customers in 26 states. The Chicago-based company employs 8,000 associates and operates on a customer satisfaction strategy, meeting customer needs by providing a comprehensive range of wireless products and services, superior customer support, and a high-quality network.

Ed Suslovic, Mayor of Portland; Suzanne McCormick, PROP President; and Eric Conlon, US Cellular