BRUNSWICK

Raymond Trombley of Brunswick has worked hard as a shellfish harvester for 25 years. This year has been tough, with a decline in softshell clams and a harsh winter.

“I’m not making the money I used to,” he said.

In turn, Trombley has had a hard time paying to heat the house he shares with his girlfriend and six children.

Trombley said he has applied for assistance through the Low Income Energy Program, but getting funds takes time and fuel oil was running low. That’s when he reached out to the Warm Thy Neighbor Fund.

“I needed (fuel) on a Monday. By Wednesday, I got it,” Trombley said.

Warm Thy Neighbor relies on community members to donate to its fuel fund. Its goal is to raise $60,000 this year. They are about $20,000 short so far.

Between Dec. 1, 2014, and Feb. 20, Warm Thy Neighbor has helped 115 households, according to information provided by Tedford Housing Development Director Martha Stein. Of those, 58 percent of households are in Brunswick, 14 percent are from Topsham, with Harpswell, Lisbon Falls, Lisbon, Bowdoin and Bowdoinham making up the remainder. The program also helps those in Durham.

Generally, qualified applicants must be at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level, but exemptions can be made under certain circumstances, including hardships as a result of medical expenses.

According to Stein, 65 percent of clients helped this year have been homeowners, while the rest are renters.

Half of clients are in need of kerosene, while 33 percent need oil and 10 percent need propane.

“A handful of clients use electricity as their main heating source,” said Stein in an email.

Warm Thy Neighbor was founded by Freeport resident Sallie Smith in 2005, who operated the program with volunteers out of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Brunswick.

“Smith, along with church and community volunteers ran the program and did everything from fundraising to interviewing applicants for emergency fuel funds and arranging for fuel deliveries,” Stein wrote. “Smith’s passion for the program never ceased, but by 2010 she needed to find an organization to take over Warm Thy Neighbor. After many discussions and meetings, Tedford Housing agreed to take on WTN in 2010.”

Since then, Tedford has assisted about 165 households or 450 individuals each winter, according to Stein.

Tedford has received helped from about a dozen community members to interview applicants this year.

Thermostats have been cranking during February’s cold spell, and Trombley, who used 300 gallons of oil last year, said he will probably be using up to 400 gallons.

“We’re at the height of the heating season,” said Craig Phillips, Tedford Housing’s executive director, “and there’s been no warm spells at all.”

According to Phillips, 100 gallons of oil costs an average of $250, which is not small change to those on a tight budget.

Warm They Neighbor volunteer Marilyn Sinskie noted that those needing assistance come from all walks of life.

“I haven’t seen any two clients alike,” she said.

Stein said 35 percent of applicants live alone, 25 percent are in a two-person household, 16 percent are in a three-person household and 28 percent of applicants have households of four or more people.

Those in need of emergency heating assistance from Warm Thy Neighbor should call (207) 729-1161, ext. 113.

Those who wish to donate can make checks payable to Warm Thy Neighbor, c/o Tedford Housing, P.O. Box 958, Brunswick, ME 04011. Credit card gifts may be made via website at tedfordhousing.org. Donors should indicate they would like gift to go to Warm Thy Neighbor. Tedford Housing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible.

Where’s it going?

BETWEEN DEC. 1, 2014, and Feb. 20, Warm Thy Neighbor has helped 115 households, according to information provided by Tedford Housing Development Director Martha Stein. Of those, 58 percent of households are in Brunswick, 14 percent are from Topsham, with Harpswell, Lisbon Falls, Lisbon, Bowdoin and Bowdoinham making up the remainder. The program also helps those in Durham.