GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the side effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will be higher heating bills this winter. But there is good news for those in need: The resources The Salvation Army has to meet energy needs are rising as well.

Consumers Energy recently notified The Salvation Army that it will increase its bill credit assistance for the PeopleCare program by $1 million, from this year's $1.5 million to $2.5 million! Consumers Energy and The Salvation Army joined forces in 1983 to create the PeopleCare program to assist families and individuals struggling to make ends meet.

In 2004, additional PeopleCare donations from Consumers Energy customers and employees totaled nearly $671,000. So far this year, the utility's customers and employees have donated about $600,000.

Consumers Energy's increased commitment of $2.5 million and the donations expected from its customers and employees bring the 2006 projected value of the PeopleCare partnership to about $3.2 million.

Consumers Energy customers can support PeopleCare's work by calling the utility's toll-free number - 800-477-5050 - and have a PeopleCare donation added to their monthly bill. Or they can send donations at any time to:

PeopleCare

PO Box 27188

Lansing, MI 48909

In January, they can support PeopleCare by checking a box at the top of their energy bills to have a PeopleCare donation added to their monthly bills. They also can make a one-time donation of $5 by checking another box on the January bills.

Consumers Energy supports The Salvation Army's work of helping those in need in two ways: 1) The donated funds provide emergency assistance to families and individuals in 36 communities in Michigan from Sturgis to Cheboygan. 2) The bill credits that can be applied directly to customers' bills based on The Salvation Army caseworker assessment and authorization. Caseworkers can apply up to $200 in credits to clients' utility bills. When funds from another source are available, caseworkers can use up to $500 in bill credits to match those funds.

The partnership between Consumers Energy and The Salvation Army began in 1983 with the help of Major James Nauta, the current Divisional Commander of the Western Michigan Northern Indiana Division's Grand Rapids-based office.

"The Salvation Army and Consumers Energy knew they had a good idea in 1983 when they formed the PeopleCare partnership. What we didn't realize at the time is how much the program would grow and how much support it would provide the Salvation Army in its work to help families and individuals in need," Major Nauta said.

"We are very concerned that families served by The Salvation Army will experience large increases in utility costs which could result in crisis. The PeopleCare initiatives, in partnership with Consumers Energy, were never more needed."

Debra Harmon is responsible for Consumers Energy's low-income, senior citizen, and special needs assistance programs. "PeopleCare's goal hasn't changed since 1983: Help people in need. Over the past two decades, PeopleCare has helped more than 260,000 households with quick, direct assistance. Consumers Energy and its employees are proud to be partners in PeopleCare and support the work of The Salvation Army to help our neighbors in need," she said.

In addition to the Consumers Energy assistance, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) provides The Salvation Army with Low Income Energy Efficiency Funds (LIEE). The Salvation Army was awarded $4.5 million in LIEE funds this month. That's the most The Salvation Army has received in its five-year history working with MPSC!

Between the two programs, The Salvation Army estimates it will be able to help more than 20,000 Michigan households with energy assistance this heating season.

While these funds are significant, The Salvation Army's greatest concern is that hundreds of households in need of emergency heating assistance this winter may be denied help because of a lack of funds. Additional donations still are needed to provide energy assistance help for families in need. To make a local donation for heating assistance directly to The Salvation Army call (800-SAL- ARMY) or go to http://www.salvationarmyusa.org to make an on- line donation.

The Salvation Army is one of the oldest nonprofit organizations providing social service assistance in the United States.

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to more than six million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. SOURCE The Salvation Army