Fundraiser keeps the heat on in Plymouth for over 20 years

PLYMOUTH — More than two decades ago, a group of women at a Christmas party had ideas to make a difference for the community by assisting with heating bills.

Since then, more than $500,000 has been raised and distributed through the annual Keep the Heat On fundraiser, which takes place Wednesday, on Jan. 28, at the Common Man Inn & Spa.

Last year, the fundraiser earned about $70,000, distributed to more than 200 families through the Plymouth Area Community Closet, which offers a food pantry and fuel assistance for 17 towns.

“This is real community event with people from all different groups and places coming together to help,” said Joan Sweeney, a volunteer who handles public relations for the fundraiser. “It is a tremendously satisfying event to participate in. There’s a lot of committed and concerned people.”

Founder Deb Reynolds said the original idea started with the Plymouth Area Democrats, when the group was trying to decide what to do for a Christmas party in the early 2000s. Reynolds founded the event with Lisa Londari and the late Martha Richards, who all agreed helping their neighbors would be benefit many.

Reynolds is a former state senator who has been involved in committees and groups in the region, Richards was a long-time Grafton County commissioner, and both were involved with the PACC as board members. They decided they could use their outreach to raise funds and awareness of the need in the community.

“We decided among us about what kind of message we wanted to send, and we felt the best outreach might be for people who are freezing in these cold winters,” said Reynold.

The first event was in 2004, held at the Plymouth Regional Senior Center. It eventually moved to Plymouth State University, before landing at its current location at the Common Man Inn.

Reynolds stressed it is now a completely bipartisan event. She regularly attends and is proud of what the group started more than 20 years ago.

“When we think of these cold winters, it seems all the more relevant,” Reynolds said. “There are some nonprofit entities where you need to apply for assistance, and go through red tape. We don’t do that. We will come fill your tank.”

The fundraiser has a theme each year. Last year was "The Roaring ‘20s,” in honor of 20 years. This year will be a Wild West theme, and Sweeney said attendees can expect the inn to be decked out for the occasion. Reynolds agreed, saying she has a cowboy hat for the party.

“I am ready to rock 'n' roll,” Reynolds said.

Paul Turley, PACC board of directors president, said he and a group of volunteers will be there the day before getting ready, and Sweeney said people are encouraged to dress up, with a chance of winning a prize. The prize for best dressed often means a spot at the front of the buffet line.

Area restaurants come together for the event, bringing a selection of food for those attending. They send employees to serve, along with local high school students. A silent auction, offering items ranging from homemade quilts to tickets to sporting events, is also held each year.

“It is a lot of fun,” Sweeney said. “There are the various heads and tales games at these events that raise a little extra money. Unlike a lot of galas, all the food is donated. Virtually all the proceeds go to the fuel assistance program. There is very little cost.”

Lead sponsors are Andrews Construction Co. Inc., Annie’s Overflow, Newfound Area Charitable Fund, and RM Piper Inc.

The proceeds will go to PACC, and people who may be struggling with paying the high costs of heating can request a voucher for oil, gas, pellets, or wood.

Turley said PACC has a food pantry, open 8-10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, where around 50 families are helped with food assistance. There is an office manager at the headquarters for a few hours on Wednesdays and Fridays who takes care of mailings and notices, and keeps the board of directors informed on how much money is coming in from donations.

An appeal each fall is mailed to more than 400 contacts, and this year, they received an especially large response.

“It’s probably due to what the government has done with food subsidies, and the price of food in general,” Turley said.

Starting on Oct. 15, each Tuesday morning, volunteers take a maximum of 20 calls and award $400 to each caller; the money goes directly to their fuel supplier. Turley said since that date, about $60,000 has been distributed to help people with fuel costs. Sweeney pointed out it was a cold November and December, and the prices people are charged in a tough economic climate can be a headache.

“With the expectation of fuel prices going up even more this year, it can be rough for" community members, Sweeney said. “These can be your neighbors. People might not realize they are struggling.”

Distribution of funds generally comes through information obtained by word of mouth, the PACC food pantry and Whole Village Family Resource Center of Plymouth, according to Turley.

He said PACC welcomes donations, and the community often pitches in whenever they can over and above the fundraiser. Recently, Sole Track Brewing, in Rumney, raised $4,000 at an event, and the owners wrote a check themselves for $5,000, to help PACC. Waterville Valley Recreation Department has an annual footrace that helped bring in $750, and the Dam Brewhouse in Campton raised almost $2,000.

However, Keep the Heat On is where the big bucks come in.

“It’s probably the biggest fundraiser in Plymouth,” Turley said. “It is something people look forward to, because we put out a splash. The music is great. The dancing is great. The food is great.”

What started off as a little event that raised $2,500 in its inaugural year has grown to an event that consistently brings at least $60,000. Turley said last year’s total was the highest ever brought in, and he expects that number to be matched or exceeded in year 21.

“We are hoping to exceed $70,000, that’s our goal, and I think we’re going to hit it,” Turley said. “The environment right now is that people are looking to give.”

Sweeney said this annual event sells out fast, and they have already sold. Donations to the cause are always accepted at paccnh.org/donate.