Slate Belt forum aimed to aid senior citizens with food and heating bills

Making sure you have a warm home and hot meal in the winter can be a challenge for people on a fixed income.

A forum in the Slate Belt seeks to address and help with those financial challenges.

Upper Mount Bethel Township Supervisor Robert Teel is sponsoring a Sept. 10 forum for senior citizens at the Mount Bethel Fire Hall at 2341 N. Delaware Drive, also known as Route 611.

Teel has been leading an effort to raise money and resources for older folks in the township and the neighboring Portland.

Teel said he is nervous that rising costs of groceries, electricity, oil and gas may make it difficult for some senior citizens to make it through the winter and he wants to provide an avenue to lend support.

“I will never let a senior starve or freeze to death on my watch,” Teel said.

The effort has already raised $11,000, according to Teel. The donations have come from local residents and businesses. Teel said he is urging others to pitch in.

The forum is open to senior citizens from Upper Mount Bethel Township and Portland.

It will feature information about Meals on Wheels, Visiting Angels, veterans’ benefits programs and other assistance groups. There also will be experts on site to assist with filling out necessary paperwork to apply for these programs.

Local, county and state representatives are expected to attend and provide information about other areas of support.

Teel said transportation to the forum can be provided to senior citizens who call the municipal office at 570-897-6127.

People who are not able to attend the forum may also contact the municipal office. Information and assistance can be brought to their homes, Teel said.

The forum begins at 1 p.m. and scheduled to end at 3 p.m. but will continue as long as needed to assist any people who attend, Teel said.

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