TEXARKANA, Texas -- Financial assistance to keep the lights on is available through grants administered by a local nonprofit agency.
The Salvation Army is providing the help under the banner of "Love Beyond."
"The organization's message is simply that when we Love Beyond late bills, Love Beyond shelter and Love Beyond disasters, we can provide hope and help for millions who need it," according to a news release.
The utility assistance is supported by two Dollar Energy Fund grants, one for Arkansas and the other Texas.
Up to $200 in assistance is available once a year per recipient.
"To qualify, [an] Arkansas client has to have a disconnect notice. Texas, due to the low threshold of the grant funds, require the client's electricity to be shut off and the original disconnect notice to be $200 or less," said Capt. Juan Gomez of The Salvation Army.
Gomez said over the past few years, The Salvation Army has seen an increase in people needing assistance because of layoffs, salary cuts and an overall increase in household expenses. While the number varies, 10 households with a total of 27 people requested assistance during a recent week, Gomez said. The total assistance was $926.
"Adrian" is one Texarkana resident helped through The Salvation Army's energy assistance. The single mother of three sons said as the bills piled up, she wondered how she would make ends meet.
"My hours had been cut at work and there were days where I'd only work half a shift, meaning that my money was less. But the bills just kept coming," Adrian said. "With nowhere else to go, I turned to The Salvation Army. They had several programs that could help me pay my bills, stay in my home and not out on the street. They've really helped me a lot."
Adrian said the support did not stop with financial aid.
"Working with my case manager, I took a finance class and that helped me realize what was most important: the things I did need and some things I could maybe do without," she said.
Gomez said the idea is to give families "a pathway to success and self-sufficiency."
To request the energy assistance, a person must complete an application that susbsequently is reviewed by the Dollar Energy Fund.
"Dollar Energy Fund will notify the client by email of the amount approved to pay on the bill. If there is a deposit owed or an additional amount owed, Dollar Energy Fund will deny the payment until the other approval expectations are met. Then a reconsideration can be requested," Gomez said.
Gomez said additional energy assistance will be released soon through an Emergency Solutions Grant from Arkansas.