Fuel assistance program lauded

BARRE— Unable to work, recovering from shoulder surgery and struggling to pay his electric bill, Michael Deering needed some help keeping his heat on this winter and, thanks to a fledgling campaign that was more successful than organizers anticipated, the married father of three got it.

It’s why Deering clapped loud and long on Thursday as a parade of speakers, which included Gov. Phil Scott, spoke about the generosity of Vermonters and how it was reflected in the bulging bottom line of the first-ever “Fuel Your Neighbors” campaign.

One of more than 7,000 beneficiaries of a fundraising effort that netted $65,000 in just 12 weeks, Deering was a proud though improbable part of the parade on Thursday.

During a brief press conference, Deering praised the program that was “there for my family in a time of need,” suggesting that made all the difference.

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