January 12, 2010 - MILLVILLE -- Area residents struggling to heat their homes may have a new option to consider when looking for help.

Bethel Development Corp., the nonprofit arm of the Bethel AME Church in south Millville, is accepting requests for emergency energy assistance. Energy sources that can be applied for include oil, wood, coal, propane and kerosene.

This is the first year that Bethel Development has had the ability to handle these kinds of requests.

After being subcontracted by Tri-County Community Action Partnership to collect applications and referrals, Bethel was given a contract by the state Department of Community Affairs to handle its own operation.

Bethel now provides energy assistance to area residents through the New Jersey Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Universal Service Fund. While emergency energy assistance applies to those sources of energy listed, Bethel also can offer assistance with electricity and natural gas.

Last year, the Rev. Charles Wilkins, of Bethel AME, said the organization handles more than 1,000 applications and referrals.

Now, with a $249,000 contract from the DCA to help staff an office five days a week throughout the year, Wilkins said he expects wintertime applications alone to exceed 2,000.

"Basically, we used to subcontract for Tri-County to service people who could not get to them," he said. "(The DCA) determined that we really had more people in need than we had offices to service them.

"Hopefully we'll be able to handle the people in Millville, Vineland and Port Norris who have been struggling to make it to Bridgeton," he said.

Bethel is not competing with Tri-County, which services Cumberland, Salem and Gloucester counties, Wilkins said. The goal is outreach and now, with more funding, Bethel should be able to reach more people than Tri-County could alone.

Michael Cudemo, spokes-man for Tri-County, said his organization received more than 2,500 applications for recertification for energy assistance this past October and November alone.

The energy assistance operation is just another arm of the ever-expanding Bethel Development Corp. What started as a one-day-a-week soup kitchen has evolved into an entire community resource organization.

"We do the food and the GED training and the job services, and for people to be able to come here, right in the community, and be able to use these services is what's most important," Wilkins said. "Especially in Cumberland, where we have so many issues, we're hoping that because of our network we'll be able to reach more people than ever."

Contact Edward Van Embden:

856-649-2072

eVanEmbden@pressofac.com

If you need assistance

To qualify for assistance, the applicant household must be responsible for the home heating or cooling costs, either directly or included in their rent, and must have a gross income level below the federal poverty level.

The amount of the LIHEAP heating benefit is determined by income, household size, fuel type, and heating region

For more information, contact the Bethel Development Corp. at 856-327-9092, or visit them at their offices at 113 S. Fifth St. between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.