Ameren Missouri donates $15,000 for Energy Assistant Fund

Portageville - Ameren Missouri has donated $15,000 to the Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation (DAEOC) to create a winter energy assistance fund for struggling families across the Bootheel region. DAEOC provides services to some of the most impoverished Missouri residents, including those living in the three poorest counties in the state.

Due to the recent closure of a major employer just as the local economy was beginning to improve, Ameren partnered with DAEOC to bring relief for those in need.

Grant amounts will be determined by DAEOC and provided to Ameren customers who:

-May not qualify for assistance such as LIHEAP or Dollar More,

-Have good payment history, but who are facing an unexpected financial burden,

-Are elderly and/or disabled,

-Are facing medical challenges or a family crisis such as a death,

-Need assistance with a past due balance,

-Are struggling with energy payments due to reasons not already listed.

"There are as many reasons for poverty as there are individuals who find themselves in its clutches," explains Joel Evans, President/CEO of DAEOC. "The generosity of Ameren in this gift helps ensure that the most vulnerable, the poor, the elderly, and the disabled are less likely

to have to choose between heat and food, or between lights and prescription medication. With Ameren funding and DAEOC distribution, more Missourians in the Bootheel will stay warm this winter."

Customers who feel they may qualify for assistance through this special Ameren grant should contact their local DAEOC Outreach Office or call the DAEOC Central Office at 573-379-3851 for information on how to apply.

The Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation (DAEOC) is a private, not-for-profit organization that serves Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott, and Stoddard counties. DAEOC forms a network of resources and individuals all united under the self-help principle of creating community solutions to community problems. Services are made available

through a blending of federal, state, and local funding. By combining funding sources, the agency provides services that best meet the needs of our community.