L to R: Tyrrell and Barbara Avant, a Project Care recipient,
listen as
Myjareya Avant reads out loud.
Retired naval base cook Velma McDaniel and school crossing guard
Barbara “Nanny” Avant epitomize the best of neighbors helping neighbors. “We
all need help some time or another,” said McDaniel, 79.
McDaniel signed up for the Share the Pennies program three years
ago. The program rounds up her monthly utility bill to the next whole dollar
and allows her to donate the difference to MLGW and MIFA’s Project CARE. The
most anyone will ever give in a year’s time is about $12.
Avant applied for Project CARE assistance in 2014. Through
McDaniel’s support – and that of others –Project CARE helped Avant replace her
gas furnace.
“When you get 66, you think your Social Security is going to
take care of you, but it doesn’t,” said Avant, who is raising her
grandchildren, Myjareya, 10, and Tyrrell, 9.
Project CARE’s energy efficiency program helps elderly and
disabled homeowners with minor repairs costing $1,500 or less. Donations go
towards such repairs as replacing heaters or adding attic insulation, double-pane
windows or energy efficient doors.
When her furnace started acting up, Avant bought electric space
heaters, but it pushed her winter bills to almost $300. “It is half that now,”
she said after workers installed a new gas furnace in 2015.
As far as being a Share the Pennies giver, McDaniel never
knew until now she was helping a family that lives only a few blocks from her
in Frayser. “I was always taught if you were able to give, you are supposed to
give,” she said.
The more customers give, the more families MLGW and MIFA can
serve. So far, the program has helped 224 families. If you have changed
addresses since signing up for Share the Pennies, please call 901-528-4887 so
we can continue your contributions.
To sign up or make a one-time donation, go to mlgw.com/sharethepennies.
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