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Thank You for Helping DMV Families ‘Thrive’

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 15:27:27 GMT

Thanks for Helping DMV Families ‘Thrive’

Hard times can happen to any family at any time. A sudden job loss, illness, or unexpected expense can quickly make something as basic as heating your home feel out of reach. For 42 years, the Washington Area Fuel Fund ( WAFF ) has been here to help families across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region face those moments with dignity and compassion.

This summer, WAFF launched the Thrive65 campaign to raise awareness of what safe indoor winter temperatures really look like, according to the World Health Organization : 64.4°F (18 °C). Unheated homes can drop below this level in as little as 8 to 12 hours.

Low indoor temperatures are about much more than comfort. They can be a danger zone for seniors, infants, and people with chronic illnesses.

Because of our incredibly generous donors—and with special thanks to our outstanding Community Sponsor, UtiliQuest —the campaign raised over $40,000 . That’s enough to keep 80 DMV families warm all winter! Because Washington Gas pays all administrative costs, every dollar of every donation goes directly to families in need.

Our Legacy of Service in the DMV

Since 1983, WAFF has been a lifeline for families in need, distributing nearly $35 million in assistance and supporting more than 320,000 people . Our partnership with The Salvation Army means that help reaches households quickly and fairly.

Heating bills typically begin in October, with costs peaking during the coldest months of the year. WAFF steps in when other programs have run out and families have nowhere else to turn.

Every $500 keeps a family warm all winter. Each gift, regardless of its size, provides hours of warmth and security.

The WAFF application window opens each year from January to May. Behind every application is a family holding on through difficult times: parents caring for children, seniors on fixed incomes, and individuals recovering from setbacks. By meeting these needs early, we help families avoid the cascading hardships that can result from utility shut-offs.

Welcome to ‘Orangetober’

Although Thrive65 has wrapped up, WAFF’s work continues. October marks the launch of our first-ever Orangetober , a month-long celebration designed to raise awareness and bring the community together in creative ways. With fun photos, an exciting raffle and more, it’s an invitation to support families while enjoying the spirit of the season.

WAFF is also unveiling a brand-new website with an easier-to-use resource for applicants, donors, and community partners. We’re excited to share our fresh look as we build on our 42 years of serving the DMV.

See our new look and stay up-to-date on Orangetober at waffhelp.org .

Are You With Us?

Even with the success of campaigns like Thrive65 and the promise of Orangetober, we see all around us how much need still exists in our region. Every winter, thousands of families face impossible choices between staying warm and buying essentials, such as food and medicine, or even surrendering their beloved pets. With your support, WAFF is a lifeline in times of need.

As the colder months approach, WAFF will be reaching out to prepare families for winter’s chill, such as our Giving Tuesday campaign and tax-deductible year-end contributions. Together, we can stand beside families and help them have heated homes all season long.

We invite you to stand with us. Visit waffhelp.org to make a gift today, knowing that every dollar goes directly to helping households in need. Together, we can keep homes warm, families secure, and dignity intact.

It’s a fact of life that hard times can happen to anyone. WAFF will keep being there, so no family has to face them alone.

We extend our special thanks to Goodwill of Greater Washington and TruEnergy Federal Credit Union for their generous support.

WAFF 'Brings It Home' for National Pet Month

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 15:51:19 GMT

WAFF 'Brings it home' for national pet month

More than 750,000 pets are surrendered to shelters each year in the United States because of financial hardship. This doesn’t include abandoned animals, the number of which is unknown.

Pets are beloved family members who love without reserve. Giving up a pet is especially hard for families struggling in homes with energy insecurity.

For our Pet Month 2025 “Bring It Home” campaign, the Washington Area Fuel Fund (WAFF) asked pets to share THEIR stories about why disconnected winter utilities matter to families and their four-legged members.

Some pets are from WAFF donor families. Others live in homes that received WAFF assistance. All of them share a great love of family and warm homes.

See the WAFF Pets Gallery (link)

Fueling Lives With Energy Assistance

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 17:18:08 GMT

Fueling Lives WITH Energy Assistance

Dec. 18, 2024

For almost 42 years, the Washington Area Fuel Fund (WAFF) has been a lifeline for families trying to make ends meet and keep their homes warm. Since its founding in 1983, Washington Gas has partnered with The Salvation Army to ensure that vulnerable households across the DMV have the support they need. As we close out another year, WAFF continues to serve families—one home, one story, and one dream at a time.

This year, WAFF’s reach stretched further than ever before. With over 1,845 households receiving assistance in 2024, the program has helped more than 320,000 families since it began. When the winter season arrives, WAFF helps provide warmth and keep energy flowing, regardless of fuel source. WAFF-assisted households have relied on the program for electricity (77%), Washington Gas natural gas (24.1%), and other fuels like propane and wood (4%).

“Our mission is simple: we’re here when people need us most during energy-intensive winter months,” said Program Manager Alexandra Balbuena Alleyne. “Our goal is to give families the peace of mind to focus on what matters most.”

In 2020, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that 27% of U.S. households struggled to meet their energy needs, and 20% had to cut back on essentials like food or medicine to afford heating and cooling. WAFF ensures families don’t have to make those impossible choices.