About:
The Energy Relief Fund brings hope to the less fortunate in Pratt.
Demographics from the 2020 census. 6600 people live in Pratt…2850 households.
660 people in Pratt live below the poverty line…285 households. That number includes 60 juveniles, and 60 elderly.
Energy bills are a major cause of food insecurity.
Electricity bills have increased 69% since 2020.
Kansas Gas Service bills have increased 87% since 2020.
The Pratt County Foodbank serves 70 families per month.
Providing more energy assistance leads to less food insecurity.
The Energy Relief Fund was created in 2022 to address high energy bills and indirectly to reduce food insecurity in Pratt. The Energy Relief Fund provides a helping hand to 18 families per month. Average benefit has been $285.
A lot of energy is imbedded in the price of renting an apartment. The Energy Relief Fund provides rental assistance to help apartment dwellers meet their energy needs.
In 2023 the Energy Relief Fund expanded its reach into the community. Students consume a lot of energy to grow strong bodies and strong minds. The Energy Relief Fund began subsidizing school lunches. In the Spring semester we bought 400 meals for 30 students whose accounts were delinquent.
The pandemic was a frightening experience for all of us. Congress appropriated trillions of dollars to support the economy. Child care tax credits and more food stamp dollars were a saving grace for our community’s poor. In the year 2021, the demand for food assistance at the Pratt County Foodbank dropped to 42 families per month.
The needs of the poor have grown larger in 2023. The stimulus has expired, the additional support is gone. The volume at the Foodbank has risen back to 70 families per month. The less fortunate in our community need energy assistance now more the ever before.
GENEROUS DONOR STARTS ENERGY RELIEF FUND AT SCCF
South Central Community Foundation (SCCF) is thrilled to announce the creation of the SCCF Energy Relief Fund. Established by an anonymous donor, this fund aims to help people in need by assisting with their City of Pratt and Kansas Gas bills.
SCCF is excited to partner with The Hope Center of Pratt and City of Pratt to find individuals or families who have fallen on hard times and are in need of a little help to get back on their feet.
“It was a wonderful surprise to hear from this donor and their idea to start this impactful giving,” said Holly Rooks, SCCF Executive Director, “This is a first for our Foundation and we are so grateful to be a small part of this large community need.”
Grants from this fund will be distributed on an as needed basis and SCCF hopes to continue this fund as long as community members are in need.
To learn more about this fund or the Foundation, contact us at (620) 672-7929 or ed@sccfks.org. To learn more about the incredible work the Hope Center of Pratt, click here.
UPDATE: AUGUST, 8TH, 2022: MATCHING GRANT NOW AVAILABLE!
The Energy Relief Fund Founder is now offering to match all donations made to the Energy Relief Fund through the end of September. On average this fund grants nearly $6,000 monthly helping over 20 families.
Donations to this fund can be made online or to the Foundation at P.O. Box 8624/114 West 5th Street in Pratt.
UPDATE: FEBRUARY 1, 2023: NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH USD 382
In 2022, the Energy Relief Fund was established with the purpose of helping pay energy bills for the low-income families in Pratt. This program was then expanded to include rental assistance in the later part of 2022.
For 2023, the Energy Relief Fund is again expanding its reach into the Pratt community. The Hope Center and South Central Community Foundation are pleased to announce that a partnership has been formed with USD 382. Grants from The Hope Center will be used to help subsidize lunch for low-income families.
For more information on the Energy Relief Fund and the Pratt schools lunch assistance, please contact the Pratt school office or Heather Van Slyke in the Central Office at 620-672-4500 or via email at heather.vanslyke@usd382.com.