A family of seven, including two extended family members, and a single mother and her three children were among those who received help recently to heat their homes, thanks to contributions to the 2009 Coal Fund Campaign.

For decades the annual Coal Fund Campaign has begun at Thanksgiving and has continued through Dec. 31, although contributions are accepted year-round.

Sponsored by The Greeneville Sun and administered without charge by Greeneville-Greene County Community Ministries, the Coal Fund seeks donations from individuals, churches, employee groups, organizations, and businesses to help fellow Greene Countians who would otherwise be unable to heat their homes during the winter months.

Community Ministries, a United Way agency created and sponsored for many years by the Greeneville-Greene County Ministerial Association, also administers the Food Bank, which assists local citizens in need of food, and other outreach agencies.

Carmen Ricker, executive director of Community Ministries, said one of the families who recently received heating assistance consisted of a mother, father, three school-age children, and two close relatives.

"Both parents work, and they were meeting their monthly obligations, with two extra people in the house," Ricker said.

"They heat their home with electricity, and during the recent cold spell, the electric bill became more than they could pay. We were pleased to help because this family really tries to take care of their financial responsibilities."

A second family assisted recently by Community Ministries, thanks to Coal Fund contributions, consisted of a single mother and her three children, Ricker said.

"Just the family's basic bills sometimes total more than the mother earns at work," Ricker noted. "To make matters worse, the mother's work hours were recently cut, putting the family in a terrible financial bind."

When the mother came to Community Ministries, Ricker said, she was at the point of having her electric power disconnected and losing her home.

Ricker noted that, thanks to contributions to the Coal Fund Campaign, Community Ministries was able to help the mother pay the electric bill and keep her children warm.

When the United Way campaign began late last month, Ricker said she feared the needy would have great difficulty this winter heating their homes because of the economic downturn that continues to have the community, the region, and the nation in its grip.

As a result, Ricker said, every penny that Community Ministries can raise before Dec. 31 likely will be needed to meet what is expected to be increased demand for home-heating assistance this winter.

Fortunately, the 2009 Coal Fund Campaign got off to a good start because of a $25,000 contribution from a local donor who wishes to remain anonymous.

That contribution was timely because demand for both heating assistance and food is on the increase, Ricker said.

Community Ministries staff members screen applicants for food and heating assistance to ensure that they meet stringent program guidelines.

In allocating assistance, she said, staff members first try to help families with small children, and homes with individuals who are seriously ill or who are 70 years or older.

As in 2008, she said, assistance this year to approved families and individuals who heat their homes with electricity, natural gas, and propane is limited to $120 once during the heating season, in an effort to make Coal Fund donations go as far as possible.

In earlier years, she noted, the amount of heating assistance Community Ministries was able to offer as the result of Coal Fund donations was based on a value equal to, or near, the price of 100 gallons of home-heating oil or kerosene.

That approach had to be changed three years ago, she said, when the price of heating oil and kerosene rose dramatically.

The same $120 amount, she said, will be paid toward the residential propane, natural gas, or electricity bills of approved Coal Fund applicants.

However, Ricker explained that the cost of a ton of coal has increased to $150 (plus $25 for delivery) from the nearest coal supplier, which is in Rogersville. The recipient of the coal must pay the $25 delivery fee, she said.

A major bright spot in the situation this year is that Community Ministries is receiving wood for home-heating free of charge, thanks to a Wood Ministry being operated by a number of local churches, Ricker said.

She also noted earlier this week that the Wood Ministry had delivered 150 loads of wood so far this fall.

Applicants who heat their homes with wood are screened by Community Ministries, which then contacts the Wood Ministry volunteers to arrange for delivery.

In past years, Community Ministries had to pay at least $60 per load for wood.

Contributions by the public, churches and businesses since the last Coal Fund Campaign report have totaled $5,373.

When added to the $77,608 that had previously been donated, the new donations brought the campaign total as of Wednesday, Dec. 16, to $82,981.

Those who had made new contributions as of Dec. 16 included:

* Jann Mirkov, $50;

* Roger A. & Trish Gaskins, $100;

* Geraldine Justis in Memory of Llewellyn Justis, $100;

* Diana & Debbie in Honor of Camp Creek Elementary School Faculty and Staff, $40;

* Allen Ray Huff's Sunday School Class of Midway United Methodist Church, $200;

* Wendy Barnes in Memory of Karen Stoebe Jones, $40;

* Jarden Zinc Products, $250;

* Berta W. Lyon, $50;

* Louise O. Wright, $50;

* Dorcas Class of First Baptist Church, $100;

* Betty D. Fletcher, $100;

* McDonald F.C.E. Club, $70;

* Anonymous in Memory of Rev. Jim Haskins and Virginia Hankins, $100;

* Anonymous in Honor of Ministers and Staff at First Baptist Church, $100;

* George R. and Jean Weaver, $50;

* Kenneth E. and Patsy E. Gustavsen, $400;

* Anonymous, $500;

* Bob George in Memory of Mr. & Mrs. Charles George, $100;

* Willoughby Cumberland Presbyterian Church, $500;

* Richard H. & Diana D. Cardwell, $100;

* Kenneth C. & Melinda S. Bowlin, $100;

* Stanley & Vickie L. Mullins in Memory of Dr. Lynn Smith, $50;

* South State Contractors, Inc., $50;

* Christ United Women of Christ United Methodist Church, $173;

* Brian E. Cutshall, $50;

* Sunday School Class of Weems Chapel United Methodist Church, $100;

* Dr. & Mrs. Nathan P. Horner, $500;

* Dolores R. Williams in Memory of Leland Williams, $100;

* Captain Robert W. Lively, USMC (Ret.) and Commander Jeanette A. Lively, USN (Ret.), $200;

* Chancel Choir of Greeneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Honor of Mrs. Ruth Thomas, $100;

* Chancel Choir of Greeneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Honor of Mrs. Cindy Sams, $100;

* Johnny C. & Kaye Hensley, $100;

* The Souther Family in Memory of Dr. Lynn V. Smith, $200; and

* Married Class of Greeneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church, $100;

Ricker said that although the annual Coal Find Campaign runs from Thanksgiving through Dec. 31, Community Ministries will gladly accept additional donations throughout the year.

Readers who would like to contribute to the Coal Fund may do so by taking checks (payable to The Coal Fund) or cash directly to the Community Ministries office at 107 N. Cutler St. between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays.

Contributions also can be mailed to:

The Coal Fund

P.O. Box 545

Greeneville, TN 37744