Energy bill assistance program available

Assistance is available to Union County area residents who may need some help in meeting the cost of high energy bills during the winter.

The availability of the help was noted at last week’s regular meeting of the Union County Board of Commissioners.

The meeting was at the Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro.

Union County Commissioner Bobby Toler Jr. mentioned the energy assistance program during Friday’s meeting. 

The assistance is made available through the Shawnee Development Council. Toler serves as the county board’s representative to Shawnee Development Council.

Toler reported at Friday’s meeting that more than 1,900 applications for energy assistance already have been received from the seven counties in Southern Illinois which are served by Shawnee Development Council.

Shawnee Development Council has an office in Union County. The office is located on the grounds of Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center at 1000 N. Main St. in Anna.

Information about energy assistance is available at the Anna office. Toler shared a schedule when the information will be available, including Jan. 30, Feb. 6, Feb. 13, Feb. 20 and Feb. 27; hours are from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Shawnee Development Council’s Union County office also has a food pantry which serves many people in the community.

Toler said the pantry is now regularly providing nearly 200 food packages to senior citizens in the community. 

The number of packages being provided to seniors has grown steadily over the past few years, he said.