| NJ SHARES Receives $1.6 Million
Ewing, NJ — October 24, 2003 — New Jersey Statewide Heating
and Referral for Energy Services or NJ SHARES is in receipt of $1.6
million dollars to use to assist individuals and families in a temporary
financial crisis pay their natural gas and electric bills this heating
season.
The $1.6 million dollars is part of the Unclaimed Utility
Deposit Trust Fund which was created by the legislature in September
of 2000. The legislation designated NJ SHARES, New Jersey's only statewide
energy fund, to provide temporary financial assistance to residential
customers having short-term difficulties paying their energy bills.
"We are very grateful to Governor Jim McGreevey and Treasurer John
McCormac for releasing these funds to us at a very critical time, said
Jim Jacob, executive director for NJ SHARES. "Our funds have been
nearly depleted since August and we have been operating solely on donations
from generous people in our communities. Low funds, at a time when people
are still struggling to pay their energy bills from last year's colder
than normal heating season coupled with the rising electric and natural
gas rates has made a frightening combination for those folks who need
our help. The release of these state funds by the administration and
the support we receive from the communities that we serve will allow
NJ SHARES to assist households in crisis throughout the state."
People experiencing a temporary financial emergency, who
do not qualify for other types of assistance, such as LIHEAP or TANF,
may apply for NJ SHARES at one of their 50 participating community based
organizations. Please call 1-866-NJSHARE for more information or visit
www.njshares.org.
New Jersey SHARES is a statewide, nonprofit 501 (c) (3)
organization which provides grants to pay the utility bills of households
in need through a statewide network of 50 community-based social service
agencies. Its Board of Directors includes representatives of New Jersey's
seven electric and gas utilities: Verizon; nonprofit groups including
The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, AARP, Association for Children
of New Jersey, Community Health Law Project and New Jersey Community
Action Association; and several at-large members. New Jersey SHARES,
"Neighbors Helping Neighbors."
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