Officials running the Surviving Winter appeal are hoping it will reach its £100,000 target by the end of this month – with last year’s total already beaten.
In 2014/15 the campaign, which asks people who do not require their winter fuel allowance to donate it to help those need it more, raised £85,000.
This year though, the fifth time the appeal has been run a total of £87,000 has already been reached.
The money donated to the appeal is distributed by the Suffolk Community Foundation in partnership with Age UK Suffolk.
Richard Cooper, a member of the Suffolk Giving panel and a charity volunteer, has visited a number of the projects supported by the foundation.
“I undertake many visits with grants officers to monitor the projects supported and have a real interest in making sure that local charities are in the best position to direct their efforts to the areas of real need in the county,” he said.
“Although it has been a relatively mild winter with only a few brief cold spells so far the need for help hasn’t gone away.
“Old and vulnerable people across our county still need help to keep warm and stay healthy at this time of year.
“The fantastically generous people of Suffolk have been great at donating their Winter Fuel Payments so far this year allowing Age UK Suffolk to already pass this help on to hundreds of older people who need it.
“Winter has not yet passed though so let’s see if we can keep support for the appeal going and reach the £100,000 target by the end of this month.
“If you don’t need your winter fuel payment and haven’t donated already, please donate to help others in need.”
Tim Holder, development director at Suffolk Community Foundation, said this year’s campaign was the most successful ever but was only worth doing if it could reach out to those in communities who could really benefit from the assistance.
“Sometimes I understand there could be some resistance to asking for support, but we at Suffolk Community Foundation and Age UK Suffolk are here to help and will deal with any request sensitively and confidentially,” he said.
To find out more about receiving extra help for your winter fuel bills please contact Age UK Suffolk on 01473 359911 and a member of the team will be happy to offer advice and support.
If you wish to give part or all of your Winter Fuel Payment to others in need, you can donate to Surviving Winter online at www.suffolkcf.org.uk via a Just Giving page. Alternatively, visit your local branch of Ipswich Building Society to donate in person or fill in a form published in The East Anglian Daily Times post this with your cheque to the Suffolk Community Foundation offices in Wherstead, near Ipswich.
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