HeartShare accepted a generous $10,000 from Dominion Transmission for an energy fund it administers to assist low-income customers throughout New York State.

Melanie Littlejohn, National Grid’s Vice President and Regional Executive Director for New York (left) and Joe Guarinello, HeartShare’s Vice President of Energy Assistance and Community Development (right), received a generous $10,000 donation to the Care & Share Heating Fund from Stanley Ossowski, Dominion Transmission Manager, Gas Operations on Friday, March 23rd at National Grid offices, North Syracuse.

“Each year, families face long, harsh winters without the comfort of knowing they can make ends meet and pay essential bills to keep the heat on,” said HeartShare Vice President for Energy Assistance and Community Development Joe Guarinello. “Last year, we faced the frightening possibility of LIHEAP funds being eliminated completely. This is a critical time for support and we couldn’t be more grateful to Dominion Transmission for fortifying our funds and enabling us to reach more New Yorkers.” The Care & Share Heating Fund offers a $200 grant to eligible low-income National Grid customers in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.

“Dominion Energy is proud to have the opportunity to partner with National Grid and HeartShare Human Services of New York to help support National Grid’s upstate New York customers in need,” Stanley J. Ossowski, Manager, Gas Operations, Dominion Energy Transmission. “As an organization, we are committed to supporting meaningful projects like the Care & Share Energy Fund program that encourage energy efficiency and provide customer assistance.”

“Our customers are no strangers to the extreme cold weather we have experienced this winter. Receiving this donation today is particularly meaningful as temperatures across upstate are extremely low and energy usage is highest,” said Melanie Littlejohn, National Grid vice president & regional executive director for New York.

HeartShare’s Energy Assistance Program, which is already reaching thousands of households across New York State through its network of utility and public partners, started an oil to natural gas conversion program through National Grid in 2017. Low-income families can apply for the conversion, which will be installed at no cost to the applicant. The conversion typically can cost thousands, depending on the existing pipeline infrastructure in the home or residential building, and often deters low-income families from making the switch. HeartShare is a Victorine Q. Adams Excellence Award winner, a national recognition for institutional innovation and achievement in serving low-income consumers.

To learn more about HeartShare’s Energy Assistance and Community Development Programs, including the list of energy assistance intake sites throughout New York State, visit www.heartshare.org.