With the number of area families struggling to pay rising utility bills this winter increasing, the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle (UWEP) is once again asking the community to provide assistance through The Warming Hands and Hearts (WHH) Initiative.

The 2015 Warming Hands and Hearts Initiative will run from January through March. It will stretch donated dollars to help as many area families as possible. The initiative is supported by Roach Energy and ROCS. Additional dollars for heating and utility assistance are provided from the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) and many charitable and faith-based organizations.

The United Way of the Eastern Panhandle (UWEP) continues to manage the WHH fund with no administrative fees or overhead charges. Every dollar raised will be passed on to the community!

To contribute to the Warming Hands and Hearts Initiative, ROCS Convenience Stores will be offering a “One-Cent Wednesday” promotion. Each ROCS location in West Virginia will donate one cent per gallon of gasoline sold every Wednesday from January to March. Roach Energy will also contribute one cent per gallon of oil or propane that customers purchase when they request a delivery from their Warming Hands and Hearts trucks. Also, “LIKE” Rocs or Roach Energy on Facebook and they’ll donate $1 for every new fan.

Pete Mulford, UWEP CEO, recently commented, “This initiative provides vital assistance for local residents who are having trouble paying their utility bills and keeping the heat on this winter. The United Way of the Eastern Panhandle is proud to coordinate this strategic partnership between our corporate and agency partners. We are proud to say that our volunteers are truly making a difference.”

Warming Hands and Hearts goes beyond financial assistance by providing a case manager who contacts the utility company on behalf of the client. Negotiated payment arrangements and financial management information are also provided through the initiative.

To make a difference in our community and help our neighbors pay their utility bills, please donate today.

Donations are being accepted by check mailed to United Way of the Eastern Panhandle, 24 District Way , Suite 201, Martinsburg, WV 25404 and online at www.uwayep.org. Please designate your donations to the Warming Hands and Hearts fund by placing “Warming Hands & Hearts” or “WH&H” on the memo line of your check or in the online donation system.

For more information on the Warming Hands and Hearts Initiative or United Way of the Eastern Panhandle, visit www.uwayep.org or call (304) 263-0603.