more information

[Dixiefireball]

First off I would like to thank a friend for sending me this great book of information for me to share with you.

This information is mainly for People that lives in Sonoma County but I'm sure others could use some of the information also. If you don't live in this county and need help please email me or PM me just because the holidays are over it doesn't mean to stop caring I'm here for each and everyone of you who will ask me for help I have been there my self and I how it feels I do keep everything personal. so don't worry I'm not going to go spreading it around who needs help, but will do any and everything in my power to try to help.

There is to much information in this book for me to copy it all so if there is something you don't see here please email or p. m me and I will look it up. I have a lot of other information for diff county's and states just ask PLEASE.

DISCOUNT CARDS

California department of fish and game, Yountville... 944-5500
7329 silverado trail, Napa, California
reduced fee sport fishing licenses age 65 and over if low income, or disabled veteran
applications available at council on aging

California State Parks and Recreation Department....938-1519
20 E. Spain St. Sonoma, California

Golden Gate Transit System and Ferry information...817-1717
1011 Anderson drive San Rafael California 949901
discount i. d card for those 65+ or disabled fee $3.00
available at Santa Rosa City hall on Tuesday from 11:30 a. m to 12:30p.m..543-3325

I will post more later.
hope this helps some.

[ICNJess]

Rhonda,

Thanks for all that you do...keep up the good work IC Angel!

Hugs and love,
Jess

[Iris]

Hi Rhonda, I feel the same way as Jess, you have done great work getting out information to help people, and are still doing it. Thank you so much for being here and doing a great job, hugs Iris. grouphug angel

[Dixiefireball]

thank you iris and jess it makes me feel better just to know that someone is reading these. kissing grouphug

[ICNDonna]

Senior discounts! I think they're wonderful! And some restaurants offer them to people as young as 50 or 55.

Also, in Oregon, if you're 65 and have lived here for 50 years, you can get what they call a Pioneer Fishing License, which lasts for life and only costs about $5 to begin with.

Donna

[YankeeCandle224]

I would sure love to have some info on Charlotte, NC. I know where to get food, food stamps, etc, but there are so many other things that I need help with.

I'm moving out of my apartment the end of March because I can't afford to live on the pittance SSDI gives me each month.

where I'm going, I'm not sure, was going to get back with the ex husband, but I realized I was doing that more for the kids, and not for me. The man I really love, that is my SOUL MATE is there for me, to help me, the problem is getting 2 of the 3 kids to understand moving in with him. My daughter loves him, my oldest son knows in his heart that his daddy and I dont really get along and that his dad picks on me, so I need help with family counseling.

I just need help in general, in every way, help with utilities until I move, etc.

Didnt mean to turn this into a novel, but if you know how to find help here I would be forever indebted to you. Getting on the phone here seems to be so hard, so difficult.........I have never been so low in my life.

Please pm me, or write me, hirisqrn@bellsouth.net, if you have any ideas. And, thanks for the time and interest you have in helping others. That is just so kind of you it brings me to tears.

Love, Sandy

[YankeeCandle224]

Thanks Betsie, you're a dear. Hugs, Sandy

[Dixiefireball]

just email me and tell me what you need and i will get to work in finding some type of resorce that will help you.
I will do everything in my power to help you.

[Dixiefireball]

SENATOR EDWARDS CALLS FOR HOME HEATING HELP

December 17, 2003

WASHINGTON - Senator John Edwards and a bipartisan group of other senators on Thursday urged President Bush's administration to free up funds to help low-income families pay their heating bills this winter.

The heating assistance program "provides a vital safety net for our nation's low-income households," the senators said in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.

Funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is included in a catchall spending bill that Congress is expected to pass early next year. Meanwhile, funds are available in a stopgap appropriations measure passed to keep programs up and running until Congress returns in January.

States need assistance now, the senators said, so they can pass it along to local social service agencies that help low-income families, the disabled and senior citizens keep the heat on during December and January.

Making matters worse, they added, is the fact that heating oil, propane and natural gas prices are higher now compared to this time last year.

The Bush administration in October released $844 million for the program, the senators said, but they added that "this level of funding...is not sufficient as we move into the coldest winter months."

The grants that were disbursed amount to less than half of the $1.8 billion total that states received last year for heating assistance.

Senator Edwards supports increased funding for the program that now covers some 4.8 million households. Because the program has been shortchanged, experts say only one in five people eligible for assistance actually receive help.

In North Carolina, where temperatures already are dropping to below the freezing point at night, 166,117 households were aided last year by the program. So far this cold-weather season, the state received $7.8 million of the funds disbursed in October. North Carolina would be eligible for another $26.6 million under the measure that is awaiting final congressional approval.

There already have been strains on the program in North Carolina. For example, Crisis Assistance Ministry of Charlotte last month exhausted federal funds that they were allotted to help people facing eviction or disconnection of utilities, according to the Charlotte Observer.

"So many clients have been going through hard economic times during the whole year that as winter approaches a lot of our funds have been diminished," Patrick Graham, the center's director of emergency financial assistance, told the Observer.

Here is the text of the letter the senators sent to Secretary Thompson:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Honorable Tommy G. Thompson
Secretary
Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201

Dear Secretary Thompson:

We are writing to urge you to release additional funds from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to states under the current continuing resolution (CR). It is Congress' intent that states receive the maximum level of funding available under the CR to help low-income families with their energy bills. We appreciate the Department's release of $844 million in October to help states open heating programs. This level of funding, however, is not sufficient as we move into the coldest winter months. The funding level for the state grant program in fiscal year 2003 was $1.788 billion, and we believe that this should be the level at which funding is released under the CR.

LIHEAP provides a vital safety net for our nation's low-income households. For many low-income families, disabled individuals and senior citizens living on fixed incomes, home energy costs are unaffordable. Many states are receiving an increased number of LIHEAP applications this winter due to arrears from last winter's high energy prices and slow economic recovery in parts of our country. In addition, heating oil, propane and natural gas prices are higher than last year at this time. The release of additional LIHEAP funding under the CR will ensure that states have resources available to support their energy assistance programs in December and January.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,
John Edwards