December and January are traditionally the coldest months in Clark County. Warmth becomes a matter of survival this time of year.
For some, however, heat is a luxury. With an estimated 40,000 county residents living in poverty, and thousands of others considered rent-burdened, finding money to pay the heat bill means cutting back on food, medicine or other necessities.
That’s where programs like Operation Warm Heart come into play. Clark Public Utilities has offered the program to qualified customers for more than 30 years. Its annual fundraiser, the fifth annual Race for Warmth, takes place on Sunday, Jan. 27, so now seems like a good time to talk about the program.
More than 600 local families are helped every year. There are other government programs to help low-income seniors and the poorest of the poor, so the utility has the ability to set its own guidelines to help Warm Heart recipients. Since it isn’t a government program, the utility hasn’t done a formal study to see who all has been helped, but anecdotally many recipients are older people with no children at home, or working families who are burdened by our community’s high rents.
“The economy is in a good place, but there are still households that are not making enough to sustain all the basic living needs,” explains Erica Erland, the utility’s communications manager. “We’ve assisted many households that have been doing fine until one unexpected emergency or health condition changes everything overnight.”
Our local gas utility, NW Natural, has an assistance program too. The Gas Assistance Program is funded by donations from the Portland utility’s customers and local businesses, and the company’s shareholders pay all administrative fees. Like Operation Warm Heart, the GAP program was started more than 30 years ago. Over time it has raised more than $6 million, which is dispersed to needy customers through community action networks.
One of the best things about Clark’s Operation Warm Heart is that it is totally funded by donations. Other Clark Public Utilities customers may choose to donate to the fund, but there is no mandatory participation. To extend the program to cover more people in need, the public utility’s employees also organize fundraisers, such as the Race for Warmth.
Over the last four years, more than $150,000 has been raised from entrance fees for the 10-kilometer run and the 5-kilometer run/walk. Registration fees are $30 in advance for either event, or $40 on the day of the race. (A separate race for kids is free to all participants.)
All of the proceeds from the race go directly into the fund, without any overhead costs being subtracted. The utility’s Community Care program covers all the administrative costs and the utility uses its tents, cones, generators and other equipment to stage the event. Local businesses donate prizes and swag bags for registrants. Clark Public Utilities’ employees, including more than 50 certified traffic flaggers, volunteer their time to help at the race.
Last year, more than 1,300 runners, walkers and stroller-pushers of various velocities took advantage of the break in the rain to race and raise more than $42,000, not including money raised through hot drink sales at local Burgervilles.
On a cold winter morning, the Race for Warmth is a good way to stay warm, and to keep others in the community warm throughout the season.
