Sumter United Ministries offers help to kerosene users

Kerosene requests at a Sumter emergency relief services nonprofit have been surging in recent days as the winter's low temperatures are dipping.

Sumter United Ministries Crisis Relief Ministry Director Kevin Howell said kerosene heaters are portable and provide radiant heat but that the cost of the fuel is expensive. The Sumter Item's Fireside Fund has been a way for the ministry to assist clients in need of wintertime heating needs because of unforeseen hardships or extreme bills.

It is not uncommon for people to turn to kerosene when central air units or heat pumps malfunction, he said.

"Many of our clients may own a home," Howell said, "sometimes inheriting a home from a family member."

When the HVAC is not repairable and needs replacement, the thousands of dollars in expense often is not available to them.

"This scenario occurred twice in just the past week," he said.

In one case, Howell said, a young couple with children turned to kerosene to heat their home when the HVAC in their mobile home malfunctioned.

Because using kerosene was new to them, he said, the couple was running the heater too often and could not keep up with the expense on their modest income.

"We advised on energy conservation, how to supplement with portable electric heaters and assisted financially to provide more kerosene," Howell said.

Howell said another instance saw a man in his late 50s request kerosene.

The man is disabled and limited to an income of just more than $1,000 a month, he said.

The client inherited a home, Howell said, but recently the HVAC stopped working, and the man cannot afford to replace it.

He was spending far too little on groceries to supplement the need for kerosene, he said, so the client was given financial assistance to acquire more kerosene to heat his home.

"The true radiant warmth of kerosene is an invaluable resource for so many of our clients who continue to request assistance from the Crisis Relief Ministry of Sumter United Ministries," he said. "The Fireside Fund allows us to meet the requests of many deserving Sumter neighbors.

"Will you help, too? Thank you for your generous donations."

Donations collected by Monday, Jan. 21:

Dalzell United Methodist Men's Club, $100; NU Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, $25; Patricia Ali, $50; Church Women United in the Greater Sumter Area, $100; Laura Barron, in appreciation for wonderful neighbors and friends, $100; Mary Weinberg, in memory of Rusty Weinberg, $100; Crosswell Baptist Women's Bible Study Group, $35; David Edens Mission Group, Southside Baptist Church, $50; and Shaw Heights Baptist Church Adult III Sunday School Class, $200.

Total anonymous: $25

Total this week: $785

Total this year: $33,127

Total last year: $48,601.18

Total since 1969: $1,616,474.25