HeatShare provides fuel to single mom in Ely, Minn.
Ely, Minnesota is the gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. In summer, it’s a bustling tourist town; but in winter, with an average temperature of minus 9, business slows to a crawl. For Amy Janeksela, a single mom who works as a waitress, this made winter especially tough. No tourists means no tips, and without that income, heating fuel was out of reach. On top of that, Amy had serious health challenges that required frequent trips to Minneapolis to see specialists.
In the past, the restaurant waitstaff had pooled money together to help Amy get fuel; but that wasn’t a long-term solution. Because of her summer income, she didn’t qualify for fuel assistance. What was the answer? Amy had a son who had just turned 11 and the two of them could not go through winter without heat. As Amy recalled, “I was at my breaking point.”
Luckily, Laurie, the daughter of Amy’s employer, had just returned to the restaurant from Virginia, Minn., where she had volunteered with The Salvation Army. “Call them”, she urged Amy, “They’ll help you out.”
Amy did call, and met with a case worker who shepherded her through the HeatShare application process. Amy met the criteria, and when the worker told her, “We’ve got it taken care of,” Amy wept, tears of both gratitude and relief.
Winter in Ely, Minn. is still cold, but thanks to HeatShare, Amy Janeksela and her son are safe and warm.