News 12 @ 6 o'clock -- November 3, 2008

AUGUSTA, GA -- Geneva Sammons is applying for energy assistance for the first time and says with help from the EOA it could make her life a little bit easier.

"Well, any would help better than what I'm doing now, any amount would help some," said Geneva Sammons.

Sammons is one of hundreds of seniors who showed up to apply to get help with their power bills.

"I've needed it for a long time but I felt like now it's more needed with everything going up. My insurance, and what have you and my gas bill is unusually high in the winter months," said Sammons.

Something else that's getting higher, funding for the program to help these seniors.

"The state gave us a little over one million dollars and we were able to serve about six thousand households. This year, the state gave our agency four million dollars and we're estimating were able to serve at least eleven thousand," said Patricia Johnson of the CSRA EOA.

The EOA says with more funding becoming available each year, they look forward to seeing more people walk through these doors.

Mattie and Dave Weeks are trying to get assistance for the third time and say the EOA holds the ticket to help keeping warm.

"We only have one small gas heater and we use it to heat one room. If it gets too warm in that room then we'll open the doors to the other rooms to warm them, but usually we sit in that one room," said Mattie Weeks.

And with help on their power bills -- Geneva and these seniors will be able to make it through the winter and still keep warm.

The EOA will continue to take applications through this Friday at the May Park and Bernie Ward centers. They'll continue until November 12th at Carrie J. Mays.

Beginning December first the program opens to the general public if there is money left. There are guidelines each applicant must meet in order to qualify.
They can call the EOA at 706.722.2207 to get a complete list of qualifications.