CCF awards grants for utility assistance to Community Lifeline Center

By Nicholas Sakelaris | March 23, 2023

CoServ delivered 25 heaters to Community Lifeline Center in McKinney this month. Pictured here are: Jennifer Ebert, CCF & Outreach Coordinator for CoServ, Liz Strand Cimini, Community Lifeline Center Board President and Ben Adams, Director of Development. Photos by NICHOLAS SAKELARIS/CoServ
CoServ delivered 25 heaters to Community Lifeline Center in McKinney this month. Pictured here are: Jennifer Ebert, CCF & Outreach Coordinator for CoServ, Liz Strand Cimini, Community Lifeline Center Board President and Ben Adams, Director of Development. Photos by NICHOLAS SAKELARIS/CoServ

Jennifer Ebert and Liz Strand Cimini unload the heaters.

Rent increases and inflation have taken a toll on many McKinney-area residents and more people are turning to Community Lifeline Center for assistance.

The nonprofit received 420 requests for assistance in the first two months of the year – a new record.

“That shows us that the need is increasing and we could easily give away, in terms of financial assistance to help with rent and utilities, $100,000 a month for qualified clients,” said Liz Strand Cimini, who sits on the Board of Directors for Community Lifeline Center. “We have to turn people away, which is really hard because then they’re at risk.”

Over the last 15 months, the CoServ Charitable Foundation awarded grants totaling $130,000 to Community Lifeline Center for utility assistance to meet the growing demand.

The timing of CoServ’s grants, which target CoServ Members and Customers, couldn’t have been better.

“Every one of those requests is stressing our capacity to give right now,” Liz said. “There’s just more need, and there are dwindling resources, unfortunately, to support that need.”

Some clients also lack adequate heating or air conditioning, either because it’s broken or their house isn’t insulated from the cold. Others choose not to run the heater to save on utilities.

CoServ has a long history of supplying our social service agency partners with space heaters and blankets during the winter and fans and window air condition units during the summer. Each of our seven agencies receives an allotment each season, which most of them quickly give away.

Community Lifeline Center already ran through their heaters this season. On March 15, CoServ made a special delivery of 25 more heaters. The timing was perfect because they had the heaters on-hand before the weekend cold front arrived.

“You’re talking about being able to heat at least a part of your home so that your six kids can be comfortable and sleep, versus turning on your gas stove,” Liz said. “Especially in Texas where houses aren’t built to withstand colder temperatures. We appreciate CoServ’s support and the continued partnership.”

Never use an oven to heat a home or apartment. Doing so could be dangerous, especially a natural gas-powered oven.

None of this would be possible without the CoServ Members and Customers who participate in Operation Roundup, which rounds up their bill to the nearest dollar. The pennies go to fund CoServ Charitable Foundation grants like those that support Community Lifeline Center.

Thank you!