Need for help is as great as ever

Everyone has a desire to be financially independent and be selfreliant, yet so many hard working individuals in our community struggle to get by. Limited personal and financial resources are having a direct impact on the conditions of homes, resulting in severe physical and financial hardships.

Homes are plagued with problems such as poor insulation, broken or inefficient heating systems, poorly sealed windows, inoperable hot water heaters, non-functional water pipes, leaky roofs and more. Homeowners, many living paycheck to paycheck are forced to spend a disproportionate amount of their income on energy bills and the ancillary expenses that ensue due to emergency housing issues. These challenges are compounded during the winter months with families and individuals striving to stay safe and warm.

It is not uncommon to hear of families wearing coats and bundled in blankets inside their homes, using their stoves as the primary heating source, living without access to water due to pipes bursting, electric shut offs or needing to relocate because their home is uninhabitable in harsh weather conditions.

The message is clear from our United Way of Chester County Community Investment partners – the resources are limited and the need continues to grow. In a county with limited affordable housing, high cost of living, cuts in funding coupled with the present overall economic environment, it is not surprising that many need to make difficult choices between the most basic needs such as food, adequate housing and shelter and medical attention.

The good news is there are dedicated organizations and volunteers willing to reach out and offer a helping hand. The 50+ funded partners in United Way of Chester County’s network of ser-

vices are doing just that and more. To learn more about them visit our website at www.uwcconline.org.

But they need our help. We are inspired by the response thus far to our Share the Warmth campaign and are encouraged by our community’s generosity. If you have any questions about the program, or United Way in general, please call us at 610-429-9400. We are a resource for the community and welcome your questions, comments, or concerns.

Over the past seven years, nearly 400 local families have been served by the Share the Warmth Program. This type of preventative work is what so many in our community need.

We hope that you will continue to support the Share the Warmth Program and we give great thanks to those that already have given their support this year. When you reach out a hand to one, you influence the condition of all.

Please help us continue this holiday tradition of giving to those who need it most. Contributions to the program can be addressed by sending a check made payable to United Way of Chester County/Share the Warmth, c/o Daily Local News, 250 N. Bradford Avenue, West Chester, PA 19382. Attention: Andy Hachadorian, Editor.