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Share and share alike |
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Tuesday, 29 July 2008 |
Anonymous donor gives monthly to Benton Utilities program
An anonymous donor is making a significant contribution each month to the Benton Utilities Share Program.
“While we appreciate each contribution to this fund, we have one gentleman that has gone above and beyond our expectations,” Terry McKinney, general manager of Benton Utilities, said.
“This customer — who wishes to remain anonymous — came into the utilities billing office to speak to Cindy Hawkins, customer service-billing manager,” he said.
According to McKinney, the man “simply wanted to help his neighbors in need.”
“He explained that he was burdened for the struggling and elderly in his hometown and wanted to give assistance to these people,” he said. “This gentleman did not want to know who it was he was helping, but he needed someone to choose a deserving person each month.”
Before the implementation of the Share Program, this would have been difficult to accomplish, McKinney said.
“After hearing how the Share board members determined who would receive assistance, this customer felt this would be the best opportunity to accomplish his goal.”
When asked what amount he wanted to contribute each month, he said, “I’m going to write you a check now, and that is the amount I want added to my Share contribution each month from now on.”
Expecting what would have been “a very generous gift of up to $50, Mrs. Hawkins was overjoyed and pleasantly surprised when she was handed a check for $200,” McKinney said.
In the beginning, when the Share Program was in its infancy, some people ridiculed Benton Utilities for starting this program which rounds the billed amount up to the nearest whole dollar, he noted.
“Some even complained that it was unconstitutional,” he said. “However, an overwhelming majority chose to participate in the program, and many have chosen to give additional amounts ranging from $1 to $10 per month.”
The purpose of this program is to assist elderly, handicapped and families struggling to make ends meet because of escalating utility bills and increased costs of living, McKinney noted.
Three people who have received assistance from the Benton Utilities Share Program spoke about its benefits.
Carl Buchanan called the program “a godsend.”
“I can’t thank the city enough for this,” he said.”It’s been the most wonderful thing that’s happened to me.”
He said he learned about the program from an article that appeared in the Courier.
“You don’t expect you’ll ever need this kind of help, but then you do,” Buchanan said. “It’s great when people step up and say they’re willing to give other people a hand. I’m proud of them, and I’m so appreciative of the help.”
Linda Ford is another who’s been helped by the Share Program, which she called “wonderful.”
“It helps out when you need it and I really have needed it. I’ve used it twice.”
Ford, who is a widow, said her husband, Jesse, worked for the city.
“We’re fortunate to have the kind of city that will offer a program to help people when they need it,” she said.
“It’s nice to know that this help is out there if I need it again.”
Lucy Pranger also has benefited from the Share Program.
“I greatly appreciate it,” she said. “I was in the hospital in June after having a stroke. My utility bill got lost in the mail, so I got behind on my payments.
“It was marvelous to get this assistance when I really needed it,” she said.
Since that experience, she has converted to levelized billing, which also has been helpful, she said.
“I’m 75 and live on a fixed income,” Pranger said. “There are a lot of other people that can benefit from this, too. I hope they will look into it.”
McKinney said local contributors are making this program possible and helping Benton Utilities to reach its goal to help people as they struggle with high utility costs.
“Our contributors continually warm the hearts of everyone involved with this program to see ‘neighbors helping neighbors’ right here in our community,” he said.
Anyone who opted out of the program and would like to participate at this time may opt in by contacting the Benton Utilities Billing Services office in person or by phone. After six months’ participation, residential customers are eligible to apply for assistance from the program.
“Benton Utilities is pleased to see this program up and working well,” McKinney said. “It is our goal to keep it functioning for all involved.
“Once again, we would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to this anonymous donor,” he added. “You are an example to us all. You, along with all of our contributors, are helping to make this program successful.” |
 |  |  |  |  | Just being with family and eating good food is the best part!!- Liz McGee Quantz (Haskell, AR)
The Mabelvale United Methodist Church in Mabelvale, AR will
be hosting a fall carnival on Sunday evening October 26th from 5 to 7pm in the
Fellowship Hall. Kids will love it, parents will too! - Roger Poole (Bryant, AR)
I make an awesome Pina Colda Cake. You buy a boxed yellow
cake mix and mix it and bake it per the instructions on the box. After you bake the
cake allow it to cool for about 15 minutes. Use the end of a wooden spoon to poke
medium size holes all in the cake. Take a can of Eagle Brand Milk and Cream of
Coconut and alternate pouring them into the holes. Place the cake in the fridge for
about one hour, remove and put Cool Whip on top, as much or as little as you like.
The cake is better if you let it sit all night in the fridge before eatting. It is
wonderful!!! - Kelly Chase (Alexander, AK)
My favorite memories of Thanksgiving were when we lived in
Tulsa, Ok. There were always folks that didn't have a place to go for the holiday-
so they wound up at our house along with most of my husband's family from Benton.
The house was packed. The Thanksgiving meal was wonderful. But the celebration
didn't end there. At night, all weekend, there were pallets spread throughout the
house and the good eats seemed to never end. And on Friday morning (after
Thanksgiving) all the females were up before dawn and Christmas shopping by 8:00
a.m. Those are memories that I will cherish forever. - Billie Loe (Texas)
I always get to make the turkey for our Thanksgiving. So
you can add more butter or flour for consistency. Wash your turkey, pat dry, take
another stick of butter and rub all over turkey. Then take with your hands and smear
the batter a little thick, all over the turkey. Once all of the turkey has the
batter on it, I will melt the another bar of butter and put it in the bottom of the
pan of my turkey. It will make a wonderful gravy to use on your turkey when done.
So, then get enough aluminum foil to make a "tent" over your turkey. Put in oven and
bake @ 375 all night. It will be so moist, the crispies are great and the gravy
makes it better. Now the flip side to this is, it will be so tender it will fall apart.
So, I do not serve as a whole turkey. I go ahead and slice up, pour some grave
over some of the sliced up turkey for those who like it and then slice up some
turkey without gravy. You will have many compliments on this. Happy Thanksgiving
and Enjoy! - Liz Johnson (Benton) We prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner that morning.
Then we pack it all up and travel to deer camp in South Arkansas. We serve dinner to
all those who don't have family with which to share. We'll spend the afternoon
playin' dominos, pitchin' horseshoes and just visitin'. It's a wonderful time. - Pat Stuckey (Bismarck) We invite all the family in and cook the traditional feast.
Everyone gets silly when they get full. That is entertaining. - Jim Perry (Benton) Frozen pizza - Greg Marsh (Medicine Hat) The whole family gets together and we have dinner and noon
visit for a while then go home to take naps and get ready for black friday sales! - Terrie Schulz (Benton)
My childhood memories are of the sumptuous dinners my
grandfather, Byron Yarbrough, Sr. would prepare. Family members came from all over
Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas to our home of South East Street. It was a wondeful
time I really didn't learn to appreciate until he and my grandmother passed away.
Later, my cousin Eleen Murray brought the tradition back and family members gathered
at their home near Lake Norrell. Today, it's the memories of
Thanksgivings past that I treasure. It was because of these gatherings that I came
to realize the importance of family. - David Hughes (Herndon, VA)
My favorite time of remembering Thanksgiving is when all of
my family would get together and enjoy the most wonderful feast I have ever tasted.
My mom would make at least 2 to 3 different stuffings, actually her and my sister
Tammy Parker(Schultz) would make everything. I am not quite the chef my mom and
sister are. I live now and have lived for most of my life away from home in
different states so I have tasted many other dishes. None can compare to my
mom's(Pat Brumley). But most of all it is the family being altogether and just
laughing and having fun. My husband experienced this tradition for the first time in
1999 and still to this day can not stop talking about it. His traditions were not
the same. He couldn't believe the amount of food, fun, and family we had for the
holidays. I didn't understand it because I am used to it always being that way. I am
very lucky to have the family I have. My ex-step dad (David Hughes) still treats me
and my sister like his own so I have extended family to share the holidays with too. Even if it
is just a phone call, prayer, or written. I sure so miss Benton. I was raised
there and even though I am in Hoosier state since 2001 I let everybody know I am
proud to be a Razorback. I will never be anything else. God bless everyone in
Benton and someday I hope to see you soon. - Debbie Brooks (Schultz) (Columbus, IN) |
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Razorbacks
