ROCKLAND — Rockland residents in need of fuel assistance have been provided an extra hand through Area Interfaith Outreach, thanks to a large donation by the City of Rockland. 

“By using this money to go through them, we’re able to get it into the hands of people who need it much more expeditiously than just keeping it here at City Hall,” said Councilor Ben Dorr, during the Monday, March 9, Rockland City Council meeting. 

The City recently transferred $10,000 to the AIO’s fuel assistance funds as a way of bypassing the numerous regulations governing the City, as well as the strict rules about how people can apply for funds, for fuel assistance, according to Dorr.

“The AIO has a much more streamlined process that they can use to grant people assistance when people come to them,” said Dorr. “And they also receive hundreds of requests a year, whereas the City of Rockland isn’t frequently an access point for people that are in need.”

City Manager Tom Luttrell is credited for finding this new way of helping Rockland residents, according Councilor Valli Geiger. It’s a way that is direct, and fast, like the need for fuel often is.

“This is sort of an experiment; we haven’t done this kind of thing before,” she said. “I’m hoping it goes really well, and that AIO and Rockland are good partners. If, as we fear, the coronavirus arrives in Maine at the same level it has in some other places, we may confront things like this just in terms of people’s ability to pay their rent, get food, etc., if all of our big box stores are under quarantine, if commerce essentially stops for a while, which is possible, but hopefully not probable.”

The City of Rockland will continue with its own General Assistance Fund program for residents struggling with food, housing, clothing, as well as the remaining money for fuel assistance.

“Come on in,” said Luttrell. “Sit down with our General Assistance director. We’ll take care of you.”

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com