The time is now to help
SAL DIMICELL
Dear W.C.,
My husband and I are desperate for help with getting a new furnace. Ours gave out two weeks ago, and it has been awful trying to keep our home warm. We have a few electric heaters running, but they can barely make it tolerable inside. We are both in our 50’s and work full-time, but there is simply no way we can afford a new furnace. I recently went through a long recovery from back surgery and months of physical therapy.
The time I had to take off from work caused us to fall behind on some bills and completely exhausted our small savings.
It feels like one thing after another this past year, and we are both overwhelmed by this new problem. I am humbly asking for your help with a furnace so we can safely get through this miserable winter.
Dear Readers, This winter has been brutal for anyone lacking safe shelter or proper heat. Over the past week alone, we have received several urgent requests for furnaces and emergency housing. As you can imagine, these types of repairs are costly and not something many charities or assistance programs are able to provide.
Thanks to the generosity of our compassionate donors, we were blessed to provide a life-saving furnace to this deserving family this past week.
In addition, we were able to prevent several pending evictions for senior citizens and single mothers with children who were facing homelessness in the middle of these freezing temperatures.
For this husband and wife, after a thorough review of their budget and speaking with their employers, we were also able to assist with their high electric bill, which had increased significantly due to the use of portable electric heaters throughout their home.
In addition, they received grocery and gas gift cards, to help with that expense after the wife’s long medical recovery. This support will allow them to move forward without the heavy burden of debt on an already strained household budget.
The wife cried tears of relief as she shared how difficult it had been to keep their home warm and how constant the worry had become, fearing frozen pipes and other costly damage they knew they could not afford to repair.
By replacing their furnace, we were able to remove that stress and anxiety, giving her the peace of mind she needed to focus on her job and continue healing from surgery.
The needs in our communities continue to grow, especially during the winter months when emergencies like broken furnaces and rising utility costs place families at risk. The good news is that we have been blessed with a new matching grant opportunity that will help many families get through the remaining winter season.
The Family Foundation 2026 $40,000 Matching Grant begins immediately. Every donation made will be matched dollar for dollar, allowing us to respond quickly when critical situations arise and truly change lives when it matters most.
As we continue distributing the remaining funds from the Christmas Helping Hand Up $50,000 Matching Grant to many in need, this new matching grant opportunity brings renewed hope for the many desperate needs we are seeing throughout these cold winter months.
On behalf of every family kept warm and every household saved from homelessness, thank you for being the hands and hearts that bring hope during the coldest days of the year.
Health & Happiness, Love & God Bless Everyone, Sal
Please Help: There are many coming to us in desperation. Our good fellow creations need our compassion. Together we make a big difference.
Make checks payable to: The Time Is Now to Help, P.O. Box 1, Lake Geneva, WI 53147. The Time Is Now to Help is a federally recognized 501©3 charitable organization.
You will receive a tax deductible, itemized thank you receipt showing how 100% of your donation was used for providing poverty relief. Please visit our website to read more of our past and current columns and/or to make a donation:
Please go to the home page, follow the yellow highlighted link that says WC Letters to see current and past columns.
A very special thank you: Christmas Helping Hand Up Donors, Family Foundation, Wayne and Beverly Hilbelink, Kunes Family Foundation, Ziegler Charitable Foundation, Paul Ziegler, Dr. Mark and Cynthia Brower, The Gallo Family Fund, Gerry and Kae Venema, Bonnie Glennon, Anderson Moran Construction, Donald Schwab, Corey Gray, Carolann Lippert, John and Cathee Laughlin, Larry and Kelly Happ, Lake Geneva Economic Development, Alden United Methodist Church, Mark and Sandra Schmitt, Edward Hechmann, Lake Geneva Area Realty, Landon Petrie Jr. and Nancy Schwab, Mitchell and Nancy Venema, Roy and Donna Swedlund, Electronic Specialties, John and Valerie Lincoln, Gary Mueller, Northern Management, John Oregan, George and Leah Rozhon, Monroe and Birdeen Putnam, Fairwyn SB, Steve and Mary O‘Connor, Michael and Barbo Oli-jnek, Joseph Fusinato, Kurt Blechner, Heidi Salas, Donald Lightfield, Joyce Francis, Nancy Ferguson, Johathan and Sara Kaplan, Rita’s “My Salon”, Bob and Millie McCor-mick, Denise Hubbard, Stanley Roelker, Jeffrey and Helen Harold, Beth and Jody Rendall, John and Marian McClellan, Owen and Jeanne Widmayer, Schrab and Deborah Irani, Gregory and Jean Marie Dexter, Timothy and Margaret Kumbier, all of our anonymous donors and all of you who support The Time Is Now to Help.Anyone who would like a Time Is Now donation box in your business, please call 262-249-7000.
Memorials: James and Pat Herda in memory of the Lux and Herda families. Robert and Anne Redmer in memory of Ronald S. Wuttke.Prayer chain: The power of prayer and positive thoughts comes from the true healer, our Lord answering our prayers. Please pray for healing for the following people: Trae, Bill, Brian, Mike, Sylvia, Megan, Kayla, Maria C., Judy, Scott, Annie, Marilyn, Brandon, Helen, Dennis, Mary, Joseph, Jordan, Jean, Tom L., Dr. Peter, Matthew, Pam E., Jenene B., John S., Patricia H., Wendy, Eric, Anthony, Mary, Charlie, Tom P., Christina, Billy, Mike, Cheryl, Bryan E., Betty, Ellie, Concetta, Cheryl, Kirubel M., Wanda L., Joan, Bruce, and Andy.
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