Chris and Cheryl Oliver from Freeport, Maine, find themselves making difficult decisions on a $60,000 annual income. “Am I going to get food this week, or am I going to get gas this week?” Cheryl Oliver shared with CBS News, highlighting their struggle.
Their difficulties worsened with the recent rise in diesel and gas prices, driven by the Iran war. In the past year, the cost of heating oil in Maine has dramatically increased from $3.34 per gallon to $5.97, marking a 79% rise. Although the Olivers qualified for 100 gallons of free heating oil through a local community center—approximately $700 in aid—it won’t suffice for the entire winter.
“I was panicking, like, how are we going to fill our tank and how are we going to stay warm?” Cheryl Oliver expressed.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, over 4 million households nationwide primarily rely on heating oil, with 82% concentrated in the Northeast.
Tony DiMarco, co-founder of the Freeport Wood Bank, noted the current high demand for assistance. This wood bank, akin to a food pantry but for firewood, relies on donations to meet needs. “I don’t think people fully recognize how big of an impact it’s going to have when heating oil costs twice as much as it did last year,” DiMarco stated. “I just don’t think people fully grasp the severity of the problem.”
The Freeport Wood Bank is one of 17 similar operations in the state. It supplies firewood to about 50 families, but DiMarco warns of depleting supplies by mid-winter. Recently, DiMarco delivered two free cords of firewood to help the Olivers extend their heating resources.
Chris Oliver, who lost a leg to diabetes and later experienced a heart attack, shared deep gratitude. “Tony and that place, they’re unbelievable,” he said, visibly moved. “I don’t know if we’d have heat without them.”
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