Deerfield committee discusses donations, eligibility and delivery of Triad senior utility assistance

The Ad Hoc Senior Housing Committee on June 10 discussed ways to support Deerfield Triad’s efforts to help seniors with utility bills, including soliciting donations and creating a municipal webpage to accept contributions.

Committee members said Triad volunteer Sharyn is obtaining a Tax ID to allow the group to receive donations. Chair Lili Dwight suggested the committee ask the Deerfield Selectboard to set up a Deerfield Triad webpage and a Town phone number to field requests and donations; members proposed asking Holly Blake for help on webpage design and donation logistics.

Members pressed Triad’s operational details to assess capacity and identify gaps. The committee listed specific information needed: which income‑eligibility forms Sharyn uses, to whom the forms are submitted, which partner agencies Triad contacts for assistance (the agenda cites LifePath as an example), whether assistance is provided by check or by paying vendors directly, how many people Triad helped last year, and whether Triad anticipates a larger caseload this season and needs help processing requests. Committee member Matthew Jadud asked whether heating oil companies offer customer assistance programs; the committee said it did not know of any formal programs and noted that, historically, a local provider (Kieras) had occasionally offered help when asked.

Next steps include pursuing a Tax ID for Triad, asking the Selectboard to create an informational webpage with donation options and a Town contact number, and compiling the operational details requested for follow-up at the committee’s June 17 meeting.