Irving Oil Announces Special Delivery of $25,000 in Heating Oil
UWUV and Listen Community Services help identify need

Lebanon, NH - Irving Oil will donate $25,000 in heating oil to Lebanon area families most impacted by the cost of heating oil this winter.

Those families in the greater Lebanon area and in the White River Junction region of Vermont in need of assistance will be identified by the Listen Community Services organization, based in Lebanon, an Upper Valley United Way-funded agency. Listen helps to ensure that Upper Valley residents have the resources to become economically independent through self-help programs including food, fuel, housing and crisis counseling.

Irving’s home heating oil drivers from the West Lebanon branch will make the deliveries in northern New Hampshire and the White River Junction area of Vermont as soon as the families are identified by Listen.

“These small communities are in keeping with the great independent spirit of New Hampshire, and the families here know how tough the New England winters can be,” said Lou Beam, Irving’s manager for home heat operations. “We are happy to offer this opportunity to ease the impact of the cold winter months here.”

“Irving is well known for its involvement in the communities it services, and this donation is made in the spirit of that generosity,” said Jim Tonkovich, executive director of the UWUV. “We applaud the quick action Irving has taken in addressing this urgent need.”

Donna Hutchins, the city’s Human Service Director, said, “I couldn’t be happier that Irving is implementing this program for families in need. Personally, Irving is my heating oil company, they have been for years, and I’m proud that my company is once again taking the lead as a community-partner.”

The donation of $25,000 in heating oil will assist dozens of Lebanon-area families. The program has been made available to residents in the New Hampshire communities of Lebanon, West Lebanon, Grafton, Enfield and Canaan. In Vermont, residents of the Hartland, Bethel, Royalton, South Royalton, Thetford, Hartford and White River Junction communities are also included in the program.

Merilynn Bourne, executive director of Listen Community Services, Inc. said, "This generous donation of $25,000 from Irving will go a very long way toward assisting families, including children and senior citizens, through this long New England winter. Irving’s announcement couldn’t be more timely. We can't thank Irving and its employees enough for their generosity.”

The names and heating oil needs of those requesting assistance will be passed onto Irving for a future delivery.

“This donation is only made possible by the support of our loyal base of Irving customers in the local New Hampshire and Vermont areas, and our commitment to our customers remains undiminished” said Beam, of Irving. “We will do all we can do help Lebanon-area families have a safe and warm winter season.”

A similar Irving program is also ongoing in southern New Hampshire region through the United Way of the Greater Seacoast and Rockingham Community Action, Inc. About United Way United Way of the Upper Valley (UWUV) is a local 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to rally resources to address the community's most pressing needs. UWUV 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