Editor:

Ecumenical Ministries would like to thank the generous people in our community who, over a short three-day period last week, helped us secure additional funds for our Emergency Aid program. 

We took to the roof of our Fairhope office in an unusual fund-raiser to draw attention to the needs of some of our clients. With the “Take the Heat Off EMI” campaign we were able to reach our much-needed goal of $15,000. As we explained in the media and to folks who stopped by our offices in Fairhope and Foley, many of our disabled and elderly clients along with lower-income, working families are struggling to meet high utility payments because of the extended hot weather. Even with the generous support EMI receives from the local utility companies, many hard-working clients have been unable to meet their obligations. Often this is compounded by the high cost of gasoline and the start of the school year. Requests for assistance have been high and constant while summer donations have been down.

The situation required drastic measures, which our EMI team addressed. Our success was due to the thoughtfulness and generosity of a fine community that, when asked, will come to the aid of those faced with dire circumstances.

Special thanks to all who volunteered and donated along with WABF radio, WHEP radio, WKRG TV5, the Baldwin Register, the Fairhope Courier and Gulf Coast Newspapers; Lee Van Dam at Signs-R-Us in Daphne, Joe Lovelady at NFL and volunteer Denise Lores. We’re grateful to all.  EMI is proud to be a United Way Baldwin County agency.