EVENTS: Vassalboro Ministry Association emergency fuel fund holds monthly meetings

Eileen Ronco of Vassalboro is a past officer and has continued as an active volunteer for the non-profit Vassalboro Ministry Association, which has an emergency fuel fund for Vassalboro residents in need. (Contributed photo)

by Dale Potter-Clark

Through a collaborative effort among churches in town, the Vassalboro Ministry Association (VMA) has been helping with fuel assistance for Vassalboro residents since 2004. It all began when two members of the Friends Meeting House, in East Vassalboro, recognized that some people in town needed fuel assistance and thought something should be done to help. They organized a spaghetti supper at the Vassalboro Community School to raise seed money that first year and after that VMA received a nonprofit status so donations are tax-deductible. Congregations from Vassalboro’s United Methodist Church, the Friends Meeting House and the Congregational Church as well as the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic parish contribute in addition to many generous community members.

Various fundraisers have been held by members of the VMA over the years but the spaghetti supper is an annual event that has endured for twenty years. For the last few years the supper has been held at the Vassalboro United Methodist Church (VUMC), of which Eileen Ronco is a member and she is also a VMA past officer who remains an active volunteer. Ronco reported to her VUMC congregational on Sunday morning that proceeds from the annual spaghetti public supper hosted by VUMC on April 5th added $1,700 to the VMA treasury for the 2025-2026 winter season.

Rose Fortin, VMA president says types of fuel VMA donates may include wood, propane, wood pellets or heating oil. The amount given to each household is based on the current cost of 100 gallons of heating oil and the fuel providers are paid directly by VMA. Assistance is for low income, disabled community members, or families with children, experiencing financial hardship.

“Applicants must be residents of Vassalboro and can make requests by phone because oftentimes people do not have transportation or are disabled,” said Fortin. In order to receive assistance they must provide information such as how many individuals live in their household and if any of them are working, what is their total income and what are their household, living expenses. Calls to VMA are always an emergency situation because those making the requests have already tried every other avenue. “VMA received 22 requests last winter,” Fortin said. “We are a little worried because it is hard to know what next year will bring with all the Federal cut-backs that are taking place right now.”

Fortin, who has been a volunteer since 2008 explained the nonprofit VMA is run totally by volunteers. In addition to Fortin, members of their board of directors are Russell Smith, VP; Gail Perry, treasurer; and Josie Haskell, secretary. Volunteers are needed to help with fundraising events.

Meetings are held monthly at VUMC, at 614 Main Street. All are encouraged and welcome to attend. FMI about meetings, volunteering or to request fuel assistance call Rose Fortin at (207) 873-1342. Tax deductible donations are appreciated anytime. MAIL: V.M.A. Fuel Fund, P.O. Box 203, North Vassalboro, ME 04962.