Magnolia and Waldo residents facing difficult times can find a reprieve from some of their bills as by participating in the COVID Relief Utility Assistance Drive sponsored by the Community Awareness Councils of Waldo and Magnolia and the Arkansas Public Policy Panel.
The drive will begin on May 10 at 11 a.m. at the Waldo Fire Station on 108 East Main. The drive is designed to help low income residents of Waldo and Magnolia, and requires participants to bring their photo ID, a copy of a current bill that needs to be paid and their proof of income. Masks are also required to participate in the drive.
“We are going to be paying utilities for low income people in Magnolia and Waldo,” said Shirley Renix, a community organizer from the Arkansas Public Policy Panel. “We can cover gas, water and lights, but you can only get one paid for at the total of $180. That’s how much each person is allowed.”
Renix said her job begins when concerned community members call the Public Policy Panel for help. She said her office has worked at Magnolia for over six years and recently branched over to Waldo last year, with the primary focus of increasing economic development within the communities.
The COVID Relief Utility Assistance Drive is a first for southwest Arkansas, but not unheard of in other areas of the state. Renix said that the Public Policy Panel had previously held three in southeast Arkansas, with all of the drives made possible through a multitude of grants.
“One of the groups that we work with, they applied for a grant, got the grant and divided it amongst all the other groups,” said Renix.
Additional information and questions can be directed to Shirley Renix by calling 870-818-0977.