BY KEVIN HOWELL
Crisis Relief Ministry director
Sumter United Ministries
A number of complexities have presented great challenges this winter season at Sumter United Ministries.
As clients arrive at the Crisis Relief Ministry requesting assistance for heat, the status of the current market and economy play out in the lives of these clients in very practical ways.
Recently, a shortage of kerosene supply has forced many interviews to be delayed. In some cases, vouchers were issued for clients to receive kerosene only to discover the vendor was completely out and that a new delivery would not arrive for more than 10 days.
I do not remember a time when our vendor was depleted of kerosene in past years, but supply chain issues have come to bear impact with availability in our area. When I investigated the situation and searched for a new vendor, I found the same issues existed. Supply is low.
Numerous stations were completely out of kerosene and could not provide scheduled dates for a new supply to arrive. To tell a client in need of kerosene for heat on a very cold day that you cannot provide assistance was not a pleasant experience. This has been a unique challenge.
Another challenge has been the expense of all types of fuels. With inflation, which has impacted every aspect of life, fuel costs have caused clients to become creative to sustain a source of heat. A senior from Mayesville interviewed recently for a propane delivery. He has a furnace to heat his home and a “submarine-style” propane tank in his yard. We assisted him last year, too, and I compared the invoice from last year to this year. It will cost nearly a dollar a gallon more this year, or nearly $100 per delivery.
For this client, it means about 8% of his income will be required to offset the additional cost of heating his home each month! He shared how he has avoided cooking on his gas stove and is using small appliances so he can afford to have heat in his home.
It is an unfortunate truth that your donations, though greatly appreciated by clients, are not going as far to meet needs this year with the rising costs. With compassion, we must all be sensitive to the impact inflation has on those who live on so little income. Though we are all affected, we are not all affected equally.
For this reason, your continued support and generous gift continue to encourage your neighbors in need. Thank you!
New donations as of Feb. 1: Rose Price, $50; Charlie Pitts, in honor of Lisa Cole, $25; Eula Walker, $50; Gail Medley, in memory of Porter Medley Jr., $100; Graziella Bruner, in memory of Mark Jordan, $50; Dianne & Bubba LeNoir, in memory of John Brabham Sr. & Elliott LeNoir, $100; Dunlap Propertiers, L.P., $500; Kathryn Levi, in memory of Dr. Wendell Levi Jr. and Patricia Levi Barnett, $500; and Southside Baptist Church, $200.
