ST. LOUIS, MO. – On behalf of Heat-Up St. Louis, a public advocacy and education charity which provides heating and cooling grants to the disabled, seniors and low-income families, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and County Executive Charlie Dooley today presented U.S. Senator Kit Bond with their highest honor, The Founder’s Award.

 

“I am so pleased to play a role in this region-wide effort,” said Senator Kit Bond. “No one should have to choose between buying food, or medicine and paying the electric bill."

 

Bond has a long record of support for helping families in need pay high energy bills. Every year, Bond presses for more federal funds to help families through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which is the federal government’s energy assistance program.  Just last month, he joined his Senate colleagues in requesting $5.1 billion for LIHEAP funding in this year’s federal budget. Last year, Bond cosponsored the Warm in Winter and Cool in Summer Act, which permanently authorizes higher LIHEAP spending levels.  His efforts last year succeeded in providing an additional $121 million in LIHEAP funding in September nationwide.  As a result, Missouri received about $45 million in federal funds for LIHEAP programs each of the last three years. 

 

As Bond accepted the award, he emphasized that the U.S. is in the midst of a recession, many companies both large and small are failing, unemployment is 9.4 percent nationally, and many people who are already vulnerable are losing their homes, jobs and ability to pay bills.  He stressed that food, shelter, and energy are basic needs for every family.  Bond pointed out that when a family’s bills are greater than a family’s income, the energy bill might be the one they can’t pay.  He noted that the federal government created LIHEAP during the 1973 OPEC oil embargo to help provide energy assistance for families, but there are not enough government funds to meet all needs. 

 

            Bond praised Heat-Up St. Louis for taking the initiative—apart from the federal government—to help people pay their energy bills.  Founded in June 2000, Heat-Up St. Louis is the only all-volunteer, independent regional energy assistance and advocacy charity group of its kind. The advocacy and charity group is a partnership between local government, social service agencies and corporations. The group provides the elderly, disabled and low-income families with small children in 16 Missouri and Illinois counties including the City of St. Louis with one-time supplemental or primary grants for energy bills through small and large public, private and government contributions. Since its inception, Heat-Up St. Louis raised $5 million for heating and cooling assistance and provided assistance to more than 120,000 individuals and families.   

 

            In closing Bond said, “Now more than ever, we need to work together whether we are in the public sector, the private sector or the non-profit sector, regardless of political party or any other difference we might have. I hope to continue our good work together on energy assistance, on housing and community development and on improving the economic prospects of all Americans.”

 

            For volunteer and donation information about Heat-Up St. Louis, Bond urges everyone to visit www.heatupstlouis.org or call (314) 369-7407.

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