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Mayor, City Announce Food and Fuel Action Plan
8/19/2008 - Released by Mayor's Office
For more information contact press office
Mayor, City Announce Food and Fuel Action Plan Convening partners to help organize campaign, summit and community dinners Mayor Thomas M. Menino, alongside state, business and community partners today announced the City is developing programs to help Boston residents from all income levels deal with the rising cost of groceries and heat for their homes this winter. The City and its partners will sponsor a Food and Fuel Summit in September, a Food and Fuel Campaign to raise awareness and necessary resources to assist already existing aid organizations and will host a series of Community Dinners across the city. “The rising costs of energy and fuel are hitting the wallet of every Bostonian, and this winter will be a particular challenge for many of us,” Mayor Menino said. “No one wants to be hungry or left out in the cold. By working together we can assure more families will get the help they need.” The Food and Fuel Summit will be held Saturday, September 27th at Madison Park High School in Roxbury. The Summit will feature demonstrations by professionals on winterizing your home and tips on how to make the most out of your grocery budget. Utility partners and community based organizations will be on hand to assist residents in accessing fuel aid and energy efficiency programming. Mayor Menino also announced a program where communities get together and share a meal. These pot-luck type dinners will bring families together and special guests will demonstrate how to prepare healthy, low cost meals. The Food and Fuel Campaign will raise awareness and funds to help already existing organizations provide for the increased assistance people will need this season. The City will be working with partners at the state to expand the enrollment of the food stamp program, by promoting who is eligible and by helping residents register. “Gas, food and energy costs are eating up more of people’s income and more lower- and middle-income families are struggling each day just to get by,” said House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi (D-North End). “I am pleased to join with Mayor Menino, my colleagues at the State House, business leaders and community partners to do everything we can right now so we can help avoid this winter’s looming crisis.” Mayor Menino also announced an effort to expand several energy efficiency programs including the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) HeatWorks program. In Boston last year, more than 17,000 families received fuel assistance and the need is expected to rise this year. The Mayor is working with the federal government to expand LIHEAP, (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program). “I commend Mayor Menino for his leadership in organizing this important Food and Fuel Summit. High energy costs continue to make headlines everyday and it's crucial that we all come together to help customers manage their bills,” said Thomas J. May, NSTAR Chairman, President and CEO. “Energy efficiency remains the single most effective way to take control over high costs and we look forward to highlighting our successful efficiency programs to our neighbors in Boston at the upcoming Summit.” Home heating oil is used by over one million Massachusetts households. As of earlier this month, home heating oil was $4.30 a gallon. It typically takes an average of three fills of an oil tank to make it through a winter in Massachusetts and could cost many residents more than $4,000, a staggering amount for low-income households, seniors as well as working families. “National Grid is once again pleased to partner with The City of Boston and is delighted to announce an increase in funding for HeatWorks to $200,000 as well as expand the number of eligible customers to now add families with children six years of age or younger,” said Laura McNaughton, manager, Residential Energy Efficiency Services for National Grid. “It is important now, more than ever, to have programs such as this available before winter arrives.” In June, Mayor Menino announced the City is looking to help local businesses with fuel costs by creating a consortium. The plan is to develop a city-wide energy-purchasing partnership that would harness buying power for small businesses on the unregulated energy market, setting the stage for valuable cost savings in gas and electric bills. The partnership would afford businesses the opportunity to buy access to the unregulated energy market at a long-term fixed price. ###

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