Some Midcoast Christian churches are banding together for the second time to raise funds for heating assistance for local families. They are holding a public event, the second “Helping Hands, Heating Homes” on Saturday evening, Oct. 24 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Academy Hill Road in Newcastle at 5:30. The event will include a spaghetti dinner, silent auction and concert. The first dinner/auction raised over $8,000. The cost to attend all events of the evening is $25 per person, or a maximum of $60 per family. All proceeds will be divided equally between the Ecumenical Council on Homeless Prevention (ECHP) and the Community Housing Improvement Project (CHiP).

The music will begin at 6:30 p.m. The concert will feature Echoes of Faith Trio, Faith Baptist Church Choir, and local musician Sean Fleming.

The evening will be hosted by local celebrity and longtime WCSH6 personality Don Carrigan. The auction will run throughout the evening and will include mostly silent auction items, with a few live auction items and at least one raffle.

“There are many families struggling to heat their homes right now”, said Don Sproul, chair of the event and president of the Water of Life Lutheran Church. “This is a great opportunity for the community to come together. Our goal is to raise $10,000 to help local families this year.”

According to Steve Ward, co-coordinator at ECHP, the need for heating assistance is historically high this year. At one point they once served nine families, now the need is for over 60 families.

Brittany Gill, executive director of CHiP, says, “Today's price for Kerosene, the typical heating fuel used in mobile homes, is a volatile $6 a gallon. I anticipate more people will need help, and it will cost more to help them. Already, I have received calls, like from the senior, eager to plan ahead, knowing how much harder it is to stay warm as she ages. This winter, even more than most, we all need to come together as a community to support each other and especially to support our most vulnerable neighbors.”

Sproul said there are three ways people can help:

1. Donate items to the Silent Auction. You may do so by emailing Kim Tolley at  ketolley@usa.net

1. Purchase tickets for a cost of $25 per person, or $60 per family, and attend the event. You may purchase tickets at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2nd-annual-helping-hands-heating-homes-fundraiser

1. If you cannot attend, but wish to donate to the heating assistance fund, you may also do that at this link above, or by contacting Don Sproul at 207-441-7778.

Volunteers from Water of Life Lutheran Church, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Wiscasset United Church of Christ and Faith Baptist Church have been involved in the planning of this event. Representatives from CHiP, ECHP, Stepping Stones, and the Central Lincoln County YMCA have also assisted.