LIVERMORE FALLS — Musician Martin Swinger will swing into town on Saturday, Oct. 23, to entertain families and raise money for the Good Neighbor Tri-Town Fuel Assistance Program.

Swinger will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. at Murray Hall on Main Street in Livermore Falls. Admission is: $2, children; $5 adults or $15 per family.

Swinger was involved in several productions by the now defunct Foothills Art Center, including “Voices on the River.”

The fundraiser will help continue the fund for heating emergency assistance for people in Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls and former Wausau Paper workers, Paul Gilbert of Jay said. Gilbert, his wife, Jean, John Wakefield and Deb Kendall of Livermore, and Louise Chabot and Mike Castaneda of Livermore Falls serve on the committee that started the local heating assistance program in November 2008, prior to Wausau Paper’s first round of layoffs in December that year and before the mill permanently closed in June 2009.

The fuel fund is administered by Western Maine Community Action in Wilton.

“We have just entered our heating season,” Paul Gilbert said.

The season runs from Oct. 1 to May 1.

The committee has raised $60,000 in its two years of existence and spent about $38,000 of it, he said.

If residents of the tri-town and former Wausau Paper workers feel they need emergency fuel assistance, they can apply to WMCA and they would receive a one-time emergency supply of 100 gallons of fuel, Gilbert said. To apply to the fund, contact Judy Frost at Community Action at 645-3764.

Applicants would also be scheduled to apply for Low Income Heat Assistance Program to see if they qualify for help through that program as well, Gilbert said.

The fuel assistance could come in the form of oil, propane gas, wood pellets and wood, Jean Gilbert said.

Besides benefit suppers, fund sources include “Fuel-Up Sundays,” a collection taken at churches in the area one weekend a year, individual and group donations, grants and unions that represented workers at the paper mill which donated to the fund to help former workers.

During the last heating season, the local fuel assistance program served 95 households with a total of 256 people, Paul Gilbert said.

Anyone wishing to donate to the fund may send checks made out to Tri-Town Ministerial Association Fuel Fund, Jean Gilbert said.

The address is P.O. Box 183, Livermore Falls, ME 04254.

“No matter how small the amount, it is appreciated to help keep our neighbors warm,” Paul Gilbert said.

The application for the fuel assistance is all confidential and done through WMCA, he said.

This committee does not see the applications and doesn’t know who applies, he said.

The committee is hoping for a successful fundraiser on Oct. 23.

“This is a family affair,” interim committee Chairwoman Deb Kendall said. “With the job losses in the area, several people will be applying for help with fuel.”

She’s hoping people will come together as a community to help those in the area in need.

“We will have popcorn, soda, bars and fudge for refreshments for a low price. Balloons for the children and dancing for all,” Kendall said. “It’s a fun way to help others.”

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