January 15, 2008
YKHC, AVCP to begin distributing CITGO fuel donation to Delta residents
Despite a slight delay in logistics, the CITGO fuel donation program will be gifting more than 400,000 gallons of fuel to households across the Delta next month, valued at more than $2 million dollars.
The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation in partnership with the Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) will be administering the 100-gallon stove oil donation from Citizens Energy Corporation to households in 46 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, a total of 4,147 households.
Pending agreements between CITGO and Citizens Energy Corporation and non-profit organizations throughout the state, funds will be distributed directly from Citizens Energy. Citizens Energy Corporation partners with CITGO to provide thousands of gallons of home-heating fuel to those in need.
"One of the reasons it is taking extra time this year is that CITGO expanded the program nation wide," said Mark Springer, Grant Development Director. "There are more 200 different tribes participating in the fuel program."
YKHC anticipates the distribution of fuel vouchers to begin in February, however pending the timing of agreements, fuel vouchers may be dispersed earlier or even later.
Once vendor agreements are established in each community, the distribution of vouchers will begin. "The cooperation between vendors, tribes, and city offices, in preparing and updating information went very smoothly," said Springer. "We could not be doing this program without their cooperation."
The YK Delta has experienced extreme temperatures this winter and in communities such as Lime Village where a gallon of stove oil is at $7.75, the gift couldn't come at any better time. "We understand how anxious people are to receive this 100 gallons of stove oil," said Gene Peltola, President/CEO of YKHC. "We want everyone to know that we are continuing to work on this as fast we can because we know how important it is to get this fuel into people's tanks this winter."
CITGO is a refiner and marketer of transportation fuels and other industrial products owned by PDV America, Inc., a subsidiary of the national oil company of Venezuela.
For more information about fuel donation program in the YK Delta, call Mark Springer at 1-800-478-3321, ext. 6532 or email mark_springer@ykhc.org.
