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The temperature has fallen as low as 9 degrees since Jan. 15. |
A cold snap has made life that much more difficult in recent weeks for local families already struggling with an economic recession, rising unemployment, and higher energy costs.
But despite the bleak outlook locally, charities say they are keeping pace with demand for their services. Mary Bergen, secretary-treasurer of the Rockbridge Area Relief Association, said that demand for assistance has been steadily rising, but that RARA has been able to meet needs. The Lexington-based organization operates a food pantry but also provides utilities assistance, including heating fuel.
“It was really cold last week, but the truth of the matter is that it got cold very early this year,” said Bergen. “From November on, we have been meeting a great need for heating assistance.”
Between Jan. 15 and Jan. 22, the average temperature recorded for the area by the National Weather Service ranged from 9 to 30 degrees.
During the same time period last year, the average area temperature recorded by the weather service ranged from 30 to 60 degrees.
In October, the Energy Information Administration was predicting an increase in the cost of propane, natural gas and heating oil, with the cost of heating oil expected to average about 50 cents per gallon higher than last winter. Since then, the price of heating oil has declined by almost 33 percent and natural gas by 12 percent, but heating fuel prices are still averaging at the highest levels in 20 years, according to the EIA.
And for many area households, lower temperatures meant more money spent on heating costs at a time when they can least afford it. In addition to pressure from rising fuel prices and cold temperatures, the unemployment rate is at its current highest since 1996. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment in Virginia hit 5.2 percent.
For working families, that can double the hardship. Sonja Clark of Buena Vista said her husband has been unable to find work since being laid off from his job at Schewel’s warehouse last year. Clark’s two sons have also encountered difficulties with employment. One has been unable to work since being injured in a car accident two years ago. The other recently saw his shifts at Mohawk Industries reduced by half.
The situation has left Clark, a full-time house and office cleaner, the primary provider in the household, which also includes two grandchildren. She said she did not know if her family’s situation would improve anytime soon.
The Clarks, who live in a home in Buena Vista built by Habitat for Humanity, have looked for help from local sources. Clark said that the family receives meals once a week from the Campus Kitchens Project, a national program that is served locally by Washington and Lee University.
As local needs have risen, Campus Kitchens is one service organization in the Rockbridge area that has been unable to keep up with demands. Director Jennifer Sproul said that until the organization can find new sources of food donations, it will be unable to take on new clients.
As for the Clark family’s heating costs, Clark said she currently does not receive any assistance, though the cold weather has forced her to staple blankets to the wall of her granddaughter’s room to keep it warm.
“I’m getting to where we may have to [ask for help] pretty soon,” she said. “I have two months’ worth of utilities and our house payment is overdue two weeks.”
Produced by
Washington and Lee
journalism students.
Lead Supervisors:
Prof. Brian
Richardson
Prof. Indira Somani
Editing supervisor:
Prof. Lisa Tracy
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd