UniBank Fuel Assistance Available to Blackstone Valley Residents

Whitinsville-based UniBank has announced that an additional $10,000 has been contributed into the UniBank Fuel Assistance Fund. Established in 2000, UniBank has donated a total of $75,000 to assist residents of the Blackstone Valley (11 Massachusetts towns) with their home heating fuel costs. The UniBank Fuel Assistance Fund is administered through the Worcester Community Action Council, Inc. (WCAC), which has been in existence for over forty years and currently administers Federal fuel assistance programs. 

“The fuel assistance fund we established seven years ago to help Blackstone Valley residents in need has been a tremendous success,” said Kenneth J. Redding, UniBank president and CEO. He added, “Families should not have to choose between feeding their families and heating their homes. We are happy to play our part in assisting those in the Blackstone Valley who need assistance in meeting the ever increasing cost of fuel.”

Jill C. Dagilis, executive director of the Worcester Community Action Council stated, "We are most appreciative of the wonderful partnership with UniBank as we collectively work to bring home heating relief to many low income residents throughout Central Massachusetts and South County. Again this year WCAC is seeing record breaking numbers of residents in need of fuel assistance support. UniBank consistently steps forward to be part of the solution through funding, outreach, service and donations to hundreds of residents, so many of whom are elders and families with young children in the Blackstone Valley Region."

The UniBank Fuel Assistance Fund creates a new opportunity for families to receive assistance.  Guidelines established for this program are more flexible than Federal fuel assistance programs.  UniBank and the Worcester Community Action Council want to stress that these funds may be available to families who do not qualify under traditional income guidelines, to families who cannot afford the standard 100-gallon minimum delivery amount, or to those families who may have already reached their annual limit for fuel oil benefits.  Families who have received assistance from this program in previous years are encouraged to apply again.  Assistance applied to oil and other deliverable fuels, although non-deliverable fuels are considered case by case.

For more information on applying for a grant, contact the Worcester Community Action Council, Inc. by calling 508-754-1176 ext. 159.  You may also apply in writing or in person at 484 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Worcester, MA 01608.