BREMCare Provides Assistance to Members in Need
Local unemployment rates create higher demand
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Corporate Communications, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383 ext. 3213; Pager:1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
Lenoir, North Carolina (March 3, 2004) – With a struggling economy, people in northwestern North Carolina are finding it harder to make ends meet. The latest numbers from the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina show that the Hickory/Lenoir area still has the highest unemployment rate (7.9 percent) of all the North Carolina metropolitan areas. While this is an improvement from previous unemployment rates in the local area, the need for financial assistance for many is still evident.
Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation recognizes the occasional need for assistance for families adapting to the struggling economy and unemployment. In 2003, Blue Ridge Electric provided electric bill assistance to 295 local members through its charitable program called BREMCare.
BREMCare allows members of Blue Ridge Electric the option to “round up” their power bill to the closest dollar. The extra cents then go into the BREMCare fund and are used to help local residents in need of assistance with bills for electricity, fuel, or weatherization. Rounding up the electric bill is an easy way for members to help other members. The average round-up contribution is just 50 cents per month, or $6.00 per year. All BREMCare donations go directly to assist those in our local communities.
Blue Ridge Electric partners with area social service agencies, which are responsible for screening applicants and administering the funds to qualifying households.
“When calls for assistance come through, we listen to the situation and make a recommendation to social service agencies for individuals in need,” said a Blue Ridge Electric member services representative.
“For some members it really does come down to buying prescriptions or paying an electric bill,” another Blue Ridge Electric member services representative said. “BREMCare can make a difference in personal lives by saving people money that they can put towards other necessary costs.”
Because BREMCare is supported solely by member donations, the amount of aide for members in need is dependent upon the amount of the contributions received. In 2003, participation in the BREMCare program increased by 14 percent with 553 new participants. Contributing Blue Ridge Electric members donated over $38,000 for the BREMCare fund, providing $33,281 in assistance.
Blue Ridge Electric provides this service because the cooperative is dedicated to contributing to local communities and improving the quality of life in Northwest North Carolina. The contribution of a few pennies really can make a difference in the lives of those members in need of assistance.
BREMCare also accepts lump sum donations and all donations are tax deductible. For more information on BREMCare or to sign up for the program, visit www.BlueRidgeEMC.com or call your local Blue Ridge Electric office.
Blue Ridge Electric is a member-owned cooperative utility serving some 66,000 consumers in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany and Wilkes counties. Its subsidiary, Blue Ridge Energies, provides propane, heating fuels and related appliances from offices in Lenoir, Boone, West Jefferson, and Hickory.
