York County Family Fund

08/17/2026

Here is another of the many requests we get daily. These are working folks who are struggling through many challenges and some are beyond their control. We were able to help her thanks to our donors.

"Hello,
I am reaching out on behalf of a young single mother who recently met with me seeking assistance with her CMP electric bill.
When she first came in, she presented a CMP bill totaling $3,081.02. I asked if this was the current balance, as clients are sometimes able to make payments or receive assistance that changes the amount owed. She informed me that through tremendous personal effort, she has reduced the balance to $527.89.
She shared that she had been struggling with significant anxiety and depression, which impacted her ability to work consistently. She described reaching a point where she was determined to regain control of her situation and began working as much as possible, making sacrifices along the way. Rather than spending money on things she wanted, she focused on her well-being and providing for her young daughter while steadily paying down this overwhelming balance.
What stood out to me most was her perseverance and commitment to improving her circumstances. She has not only worked hard to reduce this debt by more than $2,500, but she has also become a positive role model for her sister, who is facing similar struggles and is now working toward stability herself.
The Salvation Army is able to contribute $150 toward the remaining balance. I am writing to ask whether YCFF would be willing to assist with the remainder. This would leave her with less than $130 to pay on her own, an amount she feels confident she can manage.
She expressed that she would be incredibly grateful for any assistance available. I believe this request represents an opportunity to support someone who has already demonstrated remarkable determination and personal responsibility in overcoming significant challenges."

07/13/2026

These stories are heartbreaking but thanks to our donors, we were able to help:

"Dear York County Family Fund,
I am reaching out on behalf of a client I recently met with who is facing an urgent utility shutoff scheduled for today. The Salvation Army was able to provide $150 toward the outstanding balance, and I am hoping the York County Family Fund may be able to assist with an additional $250 to prevent the disconnection and help with some of the remainder of the bill.
This mother is raising two children, one of whom has severe disabilities and requires significant care and support. Over the past year, she has faced tremendous personal challenges, including a battle with breast cancer. While she is incredibly grateful to be in recovery, she has had little opportunity to process or grieve everything she has gone through because her focus has remained entirely on caring for her children.
She is the type of person who consistently puts others before herself. She frequently helps neighbors by providing rides to appointments, offers financial support to friends when she can, and is always looking for ways to help those around her—even when it means neglecting her own needs. Recently, she has been doing a great deal of self-reflection and is beginning to recognize the importance of prioritizing her own well-being and stability.
Unfortunately, the combination of her cancer diagnosis and the loss of her employment caused her to fall behind on her bills. She remains in the early stages of recovery and is not yet able to return to work. Adding to the family's hardship, her son's health insurance experienced an issue that resulted in the loss of all of his support services. For the past month, she has been providing around-the-clock care on her own while working to resolve the situation. Thankfully, his services are expected to resume once he is removed from the waitlist, and his coverage issues are fully addressed.
Despite these significant challenges, she remains positive, resilient, and deeply committed to her children. This utility assistance would provide immediate relief and help stabilize the family's situation during an already difficult time.
Thank you for considering this request. Any assistance you may be able to provide would be greatly appreciated. The disconnection has been attached to this email."

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07/07/2026

Again, thanks to our donors, we were able to help this family:

"Dear York County Family Fund,
I am reaching out on behalf of a client who is facing an urgent crisis and is in need of assistance toward her Central Maine Power account.
This client and her 17-year-old son have been without electricity for over a week. Throughout this ordeal, she has been struggling with severe anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and overwhelming feelings of shame and guilt. She shared that she did not know where to turn or where to begin seeking help. Thankfully, she was able to attend an appointment with us at The Salvation Army, where we provided $150 in assistance toward her CMP account.
Despite this support, the family still needs $764.14 to have their electricity restored.
During our appointment, the client took a positive first step by contacting General Assistance and successfully scheduling an appointment for next week. She plans to work with them to develop a strategy for addressing the remaining balance on her account moving forward.
The client is the full-time caregiver for her 17-year-old son, who lives with significant emotional and social disabilities. Since losing power, his anxiety and behavioral challenges have escalated considerably. Many of the tools and technologies that help regulate and comfort him—including his tablet and other electronic devices—are no longer available due to the lack of electricity. His mother's greatest concern has been her inability to provide what she feels are the most basic necessities for her child.
We are humbly asking if your organization might be willing to assist with restoring power to this household:
Any amount of assistance would make a tremendous difference for this family and help restore stability, safety, and hope during an incredibly difficult time."

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06/18/2026

Thanks again to our donors. We were able to help this woman out because of their generosity:

"Hello YCFF,
I pray this message finds you well.
I am reaching out with a heartfelt request on behalf of a client I am assisting at The Salvation Army who is going through a very difficult and overwhelming time.
Recently, she made a large payment of $1,700 toward her CMP bill, believing she was fully caught up. Unfortunately, she was later told she still owes over $800, which has been both confusing and distressing. She has taken the initiative to contact the CMP Commissioner, as something does not seem right, and the situation is currently under investigation. At this time, her disconnection notice has been placed on hold, but that could be lifted at any moment.
On top of this, she has faced profound personal hardship. She recently contributed $1,000 toward her cousin’s funeral after he tragically lost his life, as the family did not have the means to cover the cost. This has placed a heavy and unexpected burden on her finances during an already emotional time.
She is a hardworking and resilient individual, maintaining two jobs, but has recently suffered a wrist injury and is currently on a short leave of absence. Despite everything, she remains committed to staying on track and, once this immediate crisis passes, is expected to be able to keep up with her bills moving forward.
Through our program, we were able to contribute $150 toward her balance. I am humbly reaching out to ask if YCFF may be able to come alongside her during this difficult moment and provide any assistance toward her remaining CMP balance. Any support would be such a blessing and would help bring both relief and stability during a time of uncertainty."

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06/05/2026

Here is another request that can show you what people can be facing. Heartbreaking. We can do what we can and thanks to our donors, we have been able to help 110 people this year so far:

"I pray this message finds you well. I am reaching out with a heartfelt and urgent request on behalf of a client I am assisting at The Salvation Army who is currently walking through an incredibly difficult and overwhelming season in her life.
She is a single mother striving to care for her child while facing severe depression and anxiety that have made even the most basic daily tasks feel insurmountable. At this time, she has no financial resources and is at immediate risk of losing her electricity.
In moments like these, we are reminded of the call to come alongside those who are struggling and to offer support where we can. This mother is doing everything she can to hold things together, but she cannot do it alone. The loss of electricity would add a profound burden to an already fragile situation, impacting both her and her child’s safety and stability.
I am humbly and urgently asking if your organization would be willing to assist with her electric bill. Any contribution would be a true blessing and a source of hope during a time when she feels overwhelmed and without options.
Thank you for your compassion, generosity, and commitment to serving those in need. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if any additional information is needed . I would be grateful to assist in any way.:

05/05/2026

Thanks to our donors, we were able to help:

Hi, Dede,

Reaching out to ask for help is incredibly difficult for me.

I am currently facing a serious financial hardship while also navigating recovery and healing. I am a survivor of domestic violence, and my former partner has continued to stalk me, which has made it difficult to maintain stability and safety.

At the same time, I have been dealing with ongoing medical issues that have required multiple doctor’s appointments, specialist care, and surgeries. These circumstances have made it very difficult for me to keep up financially.

Right now, my car has been impounded due to unpaid parking tickets and towing/storage fees, and it is at risk of being auctioned. I am trying to resolve this, but the cost is more than I can manage on my own. Having my vehicle is critical for me to safely attend medical appointments and continue working toward stability.

If your organization offers any form of emergency assistance—or if you can point me toward programs or resources that may be able to help—I would be deeply grateful. I am also willing to provide documentation if needed.

Thank you very much for your time, compassion, and consideration.

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04/24/2026

Help us continue to help these folks in need:

"As much as I have appreciated your organization helping out our client’s that Spurwink’s serves, we continue to feel how much people are struggling paying their basic bills to survive these days and have to choose feeding their families and paying their electricity bill. This family has three young children with disabilities causing a hardship for the mom to work outside of the home as she is overwhelmed with multiple appointments with providers and the father working part-time due to his own disability. If any financial assistance is available to help this family with this CMP bill that would be beneficial in a way to help them pay their rent.
Again, your organization is greatly recognized for caring for our clients we serve to support."

04/22/2026

Just when you think you have it tough... We were able to help thanks to our donors. Please consider donating so we can continue to help folks in financial crisis.

"Hello! Everyone. I hope this e mail finds you well! I am reaching out to multiple community partners at once to coordinate potential assistance for a client I am currently supporting who is struggling with a high electric bill. I truly appreciate everyone taking the time to review this request.
The client is a single father of two sons who has been facing significant hardship this winter. The client himself has really struggled with being recently deaf due to medical issues, in addition to experiencing serious problems with his legs. These changes have been sudden and life‑altering, and he is still learning how to navigate daily life and parenting without being able to hear.
Despite these challenges, he remains deeply committed to his children. He devotes all of his energy to keeping them happy, healthy, safe, and successful in school, often putting their needs ahead of his own. This winter, limited finances had to be directed toward other essential bills, which caused his electric balance to grow beyond what he could manage independently.
This situation has taken a heavy emotional toll on him. He has shared feelings of immense guilt and shame, expressing that he feels like he has failed his children. He was nearly in tears while explaining that he had never been in a situation like this before and has worked hard throughout his life to remain stable. He has reached out to several resources on his own but has encountered many barriers, as he has been told that his bill is too high, and that assistance would require confirmation that other resources are becoming involved.
If this client is able to get this bill down to a manageable amount, going forward he will get back on track with his budget plan he was doing and put money into savings in case something big should happen again.
To help demonstrate active engagement and reduce the balance, we are contributing $150 toward his electric bill. However, additional support is still needed to make a meaningful impact and relieve the pressure this family is facing.
Any assistance, coordination, or guidance that any of you may be able to provide would be greatly appreciated. Even partial assistance or referrals to additional programs could make a significant difference for this family. Jane, this client has called you and left a voicemail to set up an appointment, just FYI. I thought I would add you to this e mail just to have you aware of what's going on.
Thank you all for the work you do and for your time and consideration. Please feel free to reach out if further information or documentation is needed."

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04/15/2026

Thanks to our donors, we were able to help this woman!

I am writing with urgent concern on behalf of a client I am assisting who is at immediate risk due to lack of heat and severe financial hardship.
The client is a 94‑year‑old woman living solely on Social Security income. She recently lost her husband, leaving her with no additional household income. Her adult son has moved into the home to provide support; however, he is currently unemployed and does not receive any income.
Earlier this season, the client was required to pay property taxes on her home, which exhausted the limited funds she would normally rely on to cover essential utilities. As a result, she is currently unable to afford heat. She has shared that she is extremely cold, distressed, and fearful, and given her advanced age, this poses a serious health and safety concern.
She has made repeated attempts to access assistance through LIHEAP but has been unsuccessful due to ongoing communication delays. Unfortunately, she does not have the time or physical ability to continue navigating prolonged outreach while living without adequate heat.
Given her age, vulnerability, recent loss, and current living conditions, I am respectfully and urgently requesting emergency heating assistance to ensure her home remains safe and habitable. Any consideration or expedited support you can provide would be lifesaving and would have an immediate impact on her well‑being.

04/07/2026

Here's another request. We will be able to help thanks again to our donors:

"I am writing on behalf of a client I work closely with to respectfully request emergency rental assistance to help cover her rent for the current month.
This client is a survivor of severe domestic violence. Over the course of our work together, I have met with her multiple times for a variety of needs related to safety, housing stability, and basic supports. Unfortunately, she has experienced ongoing physical, emotional, and financial abuse from her partner. Despite her best efforts, she recently allowed this individual back into her life and is experiencing significant shame and emotional distress as a result.
At this time, our agency is unable to provide rental assistance due to program guidelines, as it has not yet been six months since we last assisted her. When informed of this, the client was understandably very upset and fearful of the possibility of losing her housing.
Since this recent incident, she has taken significant and courageous steps toward long‑term safety and stability. She has obtained a protective order against her abuser, who has been both violent and financially exploitative. Additionally, her property management company (Avesta) has changed her locks to prevent further access by the abuser—steps she has not previously felt able to take.
With these new safety measures in place, the client has expressed a strong commitment to engaging with community resources, including domestic violence advocacy services, for ongoing emotional and financial support. This one‑time rental assistance would provide immediate relief during a critical moment and help her remain housed as she continues to stabilize and build a safer future.
Thank you very much for considering this request and for the important work you do supporting individuals and families facing all types of crises."

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