On Friday, January 4th, 2008, Sheryl Evans, one of MINC's two outreach workers, on behalf of MINC's Emergency Fund signed an agreement with the County of St. Lawrence that provided that MINC’s Emergency fund received a grant from the County of $62,500 for the purpose of helping individuals and families who are having problems meeting their heating costs. This grant will help many people get through this already bitter winter.

The County of St. Lawrence legislators recently voted to return $750,000 of the funds generated by the fuel oil tax to the county's residents in the form of grants to help those who have exhausted all other means of assistance for paying for their heating costs. 12 non-profit outreach agencies were invited by the County to participate in this program, the MINC Emergency Fund among them. It is important to note that this grant came to MINC’s Emergency Fund not because MINC heard about this program and applied for the funds. Rather the County recognizes MINC’s track record (as well as the track record of the other agencies involved) in helping needy families that fall through the cracks. There a great many who have trouble meeting their day to day expenses because they are right on the edge of making ends meet. Yet either because they are just above the income guidelines or because they have already used up all the benefits for which they are qualified, they cannot get any help through county, state or federal agencies.

The MINC Emergency Fund began in 1998 as a result of the ice storm that devastated the whole of Northern New York (as well as New England). It has been helping those who have problems paying for all sorts of emergency costs (heating being one of the most common) ever since. The MINC Emergency Fund is certainly one of this Presbytery's important outreach ministries helping to witness to God's love.

The grant monies are intended to help people who are residents of St. Lawrence County and who need help with any cost associated with heating their homes. Not only does this include such expenses as heating wood, fuel oil, natural gas and other heat sources, but also electricity either if it is the primary source of heat or if it is required to keep a stove or furnace running.

Although some concern was raised in the County legistature about the ability of small agencies to cope with a possible inundation of requests, Sheryl Evans, in a telephone interview, gave assurance that MINC was prepared to handle the volume of requests that will be coming in as a result of this program.

Because Ms Evans had to take medical leave, Janet Campbell, the other outreach worker for MINC, ably administered the program during its first few weeks. Ms Evans has recovered and returned to work and has taken over the administion of this program for the MINC Emergency Fund. Ms Evans can be reached (315) 322-4271.