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As winter settles in, calls to ECA’s Heater Hotline (emergency repair service) are pouring in.  Last year, repaired or replaced 5,753 heaters for low income families all over Philadelphia. 

 But there are many people with limited income, like Mrs. Jandura, whom we cannot help under U.S. Department of Energy income guidelines, despite their severe need.  Here’s her story. 

Because their income is just above the federal cutoff, ECA cannot replace their heater with the funds we have available.  That’s why your help is so necessary.  It will cost $3,500 to replace Mrs. Jandura’s broken heating system.  After we complete this work, we hope to restore heat to the homes of other low income seniors as well.  In fact, we already have a list of additional seniors who are waiting for this help. 

Jim, a 40-year resident of his Strawberry Mansion home, and his wife have spent the last year living without heat. They used oil to heat their home before ECA installed a high-efficiency heater and Jim used to climb down the decrepit basement steps every time to control the heat.

“My wife is on her back and can’t do anything. She won’t be able to walk again. Thank god for my health and this heat or else we wouldn’t be able to survive.”

After a couple months post-installation, the bills are more than $75 lower per month. Jim and his wife can now live with independence and most importantly, safety.

In Philadelphia, more than 100,000 older adults live in poverty.  Some of them may live across the city from you.  Others could live around the corner.  They don’t call much attention to themselves or the problems they face every day.  They’re used to making do with what they have.  But not having central heat could jeopardize their health or force them to leave the homes they worked so hard to maintain. 

Please act today so ECA can help these seniors who are waiting for our call.  Every dollar of your gift will be used for the labor and materials it takes to do these heater replacements, and every dollar will be fully tax deductible.  Thank you for joining us in our effort to keep our seniors safe and warm. 

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