South Portland get major donation

South Portland took in nearly $10,000 in donations during the first two weeks of December, including the gift of 2,500 in heating oil for the needy.

Through its local office on Clark Road, Global Companies LLC of Waltham, Mass., one of the nation’s largest wholesale fuel distributors and the owner of 190 Mobil stations across New England, gave 2,500 gallons of No. 2 home heating oil, worth $8,473 at the Dec. 10 retail price. The fuel will be used by the city’s general assistance program to make emergency deliveries to qualified residents in need. Sea Land Energy of Windham delivers the oil to residents for a discounted $50 fee, which the GA program covers.

South Portland's general assistance administrator, Kathleen Babeu, says Global has made the fuel donation for several years now, but this year's gift comes an a particularly opportune time.

"I can say we've definitely seen an uptick in need," she said last week.

During the last fiscal year ending June 30, South Portland spent $11,074 to help residents buy home heating oil.

Through the first five months of the current fiscal year, the city spent $74,381 on all general assistance payouts. That’s up 20.5 percent over the same July-to-November period in 2011.

Last year, from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012, South Portland’s general assistance program spent $179,732 to help city residents with heating needs, groceries, rent and mortgage payments and other household expenses. Half of the amount is reimbursed by the state.

SB Legacy Lending LLC also recently gave $750 to the general assistance program, while an anonymous donor sent in $50.

In other donations accepted by the City Council Dec. 17, the Service Memorial in Mill Creek Park got $150 from Historical Society Director Kathryn DiPhillippo and $100 from resident Martin Asdourian to help buy paving stones to encircle the monument. Also, the O’Connor family of Bremen Street – Jill, Jocelyn, Calvin and Bryan – gave $100 to the library to help it buy new children’s books.