FARMINGTON — Since the first of November, 143 Franklin County families have received a 50-gallon delivery of emergency fuel assistance.

The cost of this community aid, $27,000, was paid from donations to the Farmington Area Ecumenical Ministry’s heating fund, ECU HEAT, the Rev. Susan Crane, fund coordinator, told an audience gathered Sunday for the Christmas Carol Sing fundraiser at Old South Congregational Church. 

The donations came from churches, individuals, service organizations and the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area.

After depleting fund savings in less than a month, hopes were met to raise at least $2,000 with the third annual Christmas Carol Sing. Donations from those attending raised a total of $2,874, enough to supply 15 more Franklin County homes with emergency oil deliveries, she said.

“F.A.E.M. wishes to thank all who came to the Christmas Carol Sing, all who gave so generously and also the Old South Fundraising Committee for organizing a wonderfully successful event,” she said.

An additional $200 was raised in quilt raffle ticket sales. The Tuesday Quilters, a group from St. Joseph’s Church, created a large colorful flower quilt, now on display at Sugarwood Gallery on Broadway. Many state flowers are included in the quilt.

After taking the quilt to different churches and displaying it at the gallery, raffle ticket sales had already provided $1,000 to the heating fund this season, Joan Haley, a group member, said.

The winner will be drawn Dec. 15 after evening mass at St. Joseph’s, Haley said. 

Group members have worked hard creating the quilt and selling tickets, she said. They are always working on projects, such as creating warm quilts to give to those who have lost their homes or are in need of comfort.

The annual Christmas Carol Sing includes a congregational singing program, Crane said, but the highlight of the program this year was offered by three local groups of musicians — the Old South Church Inner Rhythm Drummers, the Mount Blue High School Chamber Singers, directed by Carol Shumway and accompanied by Patricia Hayden, and the Mount Blue Voices, an a cappella group directed by Dennis Hayes.

Hayden performed organ solos and an ecumenical choir, directed by Sandra Hoyt, sang two anthems. The choir included singers from Old South Congregational, Fairbanks Union, Trinity United Methodist and Henderson Memorial Baptist Churches.

Donations to the heating fund are always welcome and appreciated. Checks, made payable to ECU HEAT, may be mailed to P.O. Box 147, Farmington, ME 04938.

Residents in need of fuel assistance may call Western Maine Community Action at 800-645-9636 and press “O.”  The operator will fill in an emergency fuel assistance application for the household. Every effort is made to have fuel delivered within 48 business hours.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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