Already the Local Office on Aging in Roanoke has received about 30 calls from people who need help. They've had to say no to each one after losing a grant from the Foundation For Roanoke Valley.
Now they're hoping donations will fill the hole.
"They're so disappointed to hear that we may not have any money to help them again," says Anita Lancaster with LOA.
One of LOA's clients is Estaleane Montgomery who has already turned the heat on inside her Roanoke home.
"You had to put the heat on kinda early," says Montgomery who lives on a fixed income, "I was hoping it'd be nice until Thanksgiving at least."
It costs about $3,000 to heat Montgomery's Allison Avenue house during the winter. Her two story house is older, has drafty windows and no insulation.
Montgomery qualifies for help from the Local Office on Aging and gets about $350 for the winter.
LOA clients must be age 60 or older and low income. For example, a household of one person can't earn more than 998 a month.
The Heating Assistance Program usually spends $30,000 each winter. That money buys oil for needy seniors or pays utility bills. The program helps more than 100 seniors every year.
"Most of them have such low income in trying to pay for housing, prescriptions, and food they just don't have a way to pay all their bills," says Lancaster.
Now people like Montgomery wonder how they'll make it all winter.
If you'd like to donate money to the heating assistance program, you can call the Local Office on Aging in Roanoke at 540-345-0451.
