Jodi Rave: Tribes receive heating assistance

"With more than a month of winter heating bills ahead, a private donation from a Venezuelan oil giant is helping thousands of U.S. citizens pay their heating bills, including 163 tribes.

Montana and South Dakota tribes received more than $1 million this week from CITGO Petroleum Corp., just as many low-income families on the Cheyenne River Reservation had been filling the pinch of heating assistance program funds, which ran out in October.

'Since then, people have had to make do,' Margaret Bad Warrior, a tribal attorney for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in Eagle Butte, S.D., said on Friday. 'People have heated their home with dryers. A lot of children have been ill because of cold homes. Tribal programs haven't had heat.'

CITGO-Venezuela's discounted fuel-heating program is helping more than 400,000 households in 16 states. The program was expanded this year after fuel recipients from last year met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and requested additional help.

'We are more than just an oil company,' said Felix Rodriguez, CITGO president and CEO. 'We are neighbors and friends who care for those in need. This is a people-to-people program that comes from the heart of Venezuela to the homes of American families who just can't pay their energy bills.'"

Get the Story:
Jodi Rave: Montana, S.D. tribes receive more than $1 million in heating assistance (The Missoulian 2/18)

Relevant Links:
Jodi Rave - http://www.missoulian.com/jodirave

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