Irving Oil Announces Special Delivery of $50,000 in Heating Oil
UWGS and Rockingham Community Action help identify need

Portsmouth, NH - Irving Oil will donate $50,000 in heating oil to families and individuals in the New Hampshire Seacoast most impacted by today's home heating oil costs.

People who feel they may need immediate assistance are asked to contact Rockingham Community Action, Inc., a United Way of the Greater Seacoast-funded agency based in Portsmouth. RCA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to helping people overcome financial hardships and achieve self-reliance. RCA’s telephone number is (603) 436-3896.

Irving’s home heating oil drivers from its Portsmouth branch will make deliveries in the Seacoast area after families who qualify are identified by RCA.

"Each year, the need for heating oil assistance is as great, if not greater, than the year before, so we expect this year to be no exception," said Sue Suter, executive director of the United Way of the Greater Seacoast. "When we received the call about this generous offer from Irving, it was only logical to connect the company with RCA. The agency administers the federal fuel assistance program locally and already has a system in place for taking applications and qualifying those who are most in need of assistance. The challenge of helping these families is eased enormously by Irving’s donation.”

Lou Beam, Irving’s manager of home heat operations, saw this donation as an opportunity to help those Seacoast area residents who need assistance to keep their families warm this winter.

“Our customers live in the Seacoast, as do our employees, and we wanted to do something to help,” Beam said. “We saw the need and chose to address it as quickly as we could.”

Sharon Brody, of RCA, said, "This generous donation of $50,000 from Irving will go a very long way toward assisting families, including children and senior citizens, through our long New England winter. The company’s announcement couldn’t be more timely. We can't thank Irving and its employees enough for their generosity during a time of year that can be particularly stressful for low-income families.”

The program is available to residents in the New Hampshire communities of Portsmouth, Exeter, Epping, Stratham, Newmarket, Newfields, Hampton, North Hampton, Hampton Falls, Seabrook, Newington and Rye.

If the need is approved by RCA, the names and heating oil needs of those requesting assistance will be passed onto Irving for future delivery.

“We urge anyone who may think they need assistance to call us as soon as possible so we can help facilitate future deliveries,” said Brody.

"This donation is only made possible by the support of our expanding and loyal base of customers throughout the Seacoast and in the entire state of New Hampshire, and our commitment to our customers remains undiminished," said Beam of Irving. “We will do all we can to help the Seacoast have a safe and warm winter season this year.”

A similar Irving program is also ongoing in northern New Hampshire and the White River Junction area of Vermont through the United Way of the Upper Valley and the Lebanon-based Listen Community Services.

About United Way

United Way of the Greater Seacoast (UWGS) is a local 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to rally resources to address the community's most pressing needs. UWGS is one of 1400 locally independent, self-governing United Way organizations in United States and is overseen by a Board of Directors. Based on community needs assessment, our work focuses on creating meaningful, positive community impact in three areas: promoting: self-sufficient individuals and families; improving health and wellness; supporting strong and safe communities.

About Irving Oil

Founded in 1924, Irving is the regional refining and marketing company focused on customer service and supply chain management. Irving has been serving customers in New England since opening its first site in Bangor, Maine in 1972. The company now serves customers at its Irving Bluecanoe and Mainway convenience stores and with home heat and wholesale operations throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Irving’s marketing office is located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Irving became the first oil company to ever receive a US Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Excellence award, for introducing low sulfur gasoline three years ahead of regulations.

For more information, please contact:

Rob Wilson
Irving Oil Public Affairs
(603) 559-8818