Gainesville Regional Utilities is giving back.
The utility service provider is asking customers to give valentines — disguised as monetary donations — to help residents struggling to meet utility payments.
The Project SHARE program, which has operated for more than 20 years, receives donations from customers and GRU employees year round but boosts its campaign in February.
Donated money is sent to the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and Gainesville Community Ministry, which then distribute the funds to those in need, primarily focusing on the elderly, handicapped and those who are ill.
“There are other extenuating circumstances for people, but those are primarily what we try to help out with,” said John Barli, the Catholic Charities regional director. “Obviously, we only have certain amount of funds per month,” — about $1800 to $2500.
Barli said that’s enough to help about 15 to 20 residents each month.
“There’s a lot more need than what we can handle,” he said.
In order to help as many community members as possible, Catholic Charities helps each person only once.
GRU hopes to raise more than $76,000 this year, spokeswoman Kendall Litton Jensen said.
Last year, more than $73,000 helped 458 customers keep their lights and water running, according to a press release.
The three charities work together to spread the wealth — when one runs out, the other chips in if able, Barli said.
Utility rates went up slightly in October, Jensen said, citing the biomass plant and a decrease in sales as potential factors. There was a $1.35 increase per 1,000-kilowatt hours for electric, $2.36 increase for gas, a 50-cent increase for water and a $1.95 increase for wastewater, according to GRU’s website.
Customers can donate online at gru.com/projectshare, call GRU Customer Service at 352-334-3434 or 1-800-818-3436 or complete the pledge card sent with their February utility bill. Those who need help paying should call the United Way of North Central Florida’s 2-1-1 helpline.
[A version of this story ran on page 3 on 2/12/2015 under the headline “GRU helps some pay bills"]
