AS PANDEMIC-RELATED PRICES SURGE, WEBSTER FIVE DONATES $35K TO HELP MEET FAMILIES’ BASIC NEEDS
 
Funding will provide food, fuel assistance, & holiday gifts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2021

CONTACT:
Ellen M. Ganley,
WCAC Director of Policy, Public Affairs & Advancement
(508) 762-9807 EGanley@wcac.net

Holly Deslauriers
Webster Five Cents Savings Bank
(508) 640-0446, HDeslauriers@web5.com
 
Christina Pandapas
Stackpole

(December 9, 2021) Auburn, MA – With temperatures dropping and prices for goods continuing to rise, Webster Five is donating $35,000 to help local families facing food insecurity and surging home heating costs. The bank is giving $20,000 to the Worcester County Food Bank, $10,000 to the Worcester Community Action Council’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and in honor of Veteran’s Day, $5,000 to the food pantry at the veteran-family-assistance organization, Project New Hope.

Webster Five President and CEO Donald F. Doyle said the bank wanted to focus on helping address the ongoing economic hardships exacerbated by the pandemic. “There are so many families who are struggling with basic needs and it’s just devastating,” said Doyle. “We are grateful to Worcester Community Action Council, the Worcester County Food Bank, and Project New Hope for all the work they do and we’re very pleased to support them.”
 
WCAC's Director of Energy Resources Mary Knittle said, "We are most appreciative of Webster Five's generosity. These funds will help us help so many in our community who are struggling with high home heating bills." She encouraged those struggling to reach out to WCAC for assistance. The program known as fuel assistance or home heating assistance, helps both homeowners and renters pay home heating bills, and past due balances on utility bills. Financial assistance is available for income-eligible households to help pay home heating bills incurred between November 1 – April 30 of each year. Additional details, including a new online application for first time applicants, is available at www.WCAC.net/fuel-assistance/
 
Webster Five is a forward-thinking community bank in Central Massachusetts, providing a full range of in-person and digital banking services to consumers, businesses, and non-profits. Founded in 1868, Webster Five has a long-standing commitment to community and is dedicated to a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture. The bank has donated millions of dollars and its employees give their time and energy to organizations that strengthen the local community. Headquartered in Auburn, MA, Webster Five is a preferred SBA lender with $1 billion in assets and branch locations in Auburn, Dudley, Oxford, Shrewsbury, Webster and Worcester.
About WCAC

Since 1965, the Worcester Community Action Council has served as the federally designated anti-poverty agency for central and southern Worcester County, with a mission of helping people move to economic self-sufficiency through programs, partnerships and advocacy.

Serving the City of Worcester and 45 neighboring communities of Auburn, Blackstone, Boylston, Brimfield, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Holden, Holland, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Grafton, Leicester, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Monson, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northborough, Northbridge, Palmer, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southbridge, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Wales, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield and Westborough.
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