REAS = Residential Energy Assistance for Seniors

You could potentially win 31 times!  This lottery calendar makes a great gift!  Each day in the month of January 2010, a name will be drawn.  Weekends and holidays will be drawn during regular business days.  Prizes range from $50, $75, $100, and a grand prize of $500 will be drawn on January 30th at the REAS 2nd annual “Taste of the Town’s” event.  If you win, your name is put back in the drawing to potentially win again and again!  31 chances for just $10! 

Lottery calendars are being sold at the Charlton Senior Center or by calling 508-434-4402.  All proceeds benefit Charlton senior citizens.

We need your help!  –  If you’d like to help out the REAS Foundation as a volunteer, please call 508-434-4402 and we’d be happy to speak with you about how you can use your talents to help senior citizens in your community.

REAS Foundation Thanks Old Home Day, Charlton Idol Winners

Old Home Day was a great way to let our community know that the REAS Foundation is raising funds to help Charlton seniors with their energy needs.  Thanks to Southbridge Savings bank who donated the reusable cups with our REAS logo on it, we raised $418 by selling lemonade and lottery calendars.  Thanks to all the hard work from our volunteers as well. 

It was great to see the Charlton Idol Contest winners Jenna Libera, Danielle Angelo, and Emma Cooke, who showed us their talents as they each sang a solo on the common at OHD.  This past June, they competed in the Charlton Idol Contest at Charlton Middle School.  The contest was sponsored by the REAS Foundation and served a dual purpose - to raises funds for energy assistance for Charlton senior citizens and to help the students become aware of the needs of senior citizens in their community.  It was a fun night for all. 

Coming soon! — We will be sponsoring our 2nd annual “Taste of the Towns” on January 30, 2010.  Please watch for more information about this fantastic event!  Check out our website at www.reasfoundation.org/charlton

Elaine Kinston, Chapter Director
REAS Foundation – Charlton Chapter
P.O. Box 793
Charlton, MA 01507
Phone: 508-434-4402

Email: infocharlton@reasfoundation.org

The Charlton Middle School auditorium was buzzing with speculation as to who would win the Idol Contest held on Saturday, June 20, 2009.  Auditions were held the previous Saturday, also at the Middle School, where eighteen Middle School students tried out for a spot in the finals.  Out of the eighteen students, thirteen went on to perform at the finals.

Chief James Pervier, a member of the REAS Board of Directors, was the Emcee for the evening.  He surprised everyone when he came out on stage dressed as a “jail-bird” and belted out “Jail House Rock” by Elvis Presley.  “I was trying to get the kids going– so they’d feel more comfortable about moving around on stage during their performances.”  (more…)

Jeff Tasse - president of Tasse Fuel Corporation - has issued a 1K Challenge to the Charlton business community, in support of the Charlton REAS Chapter. Mr. Tasse indicated that his company would match all donations made by Charlton businesses to the Charlton Chapter, up to a combined total of $1000.

Tasse Fuel Corporation has been an integral part of the tri-community area since 1946 - starting as a plumbing and heating company – adding fuel oil sales in 1959, and air conditioning operations in 1971.

In addition to his business endeavors, Jeff has a long history of civic volunteerism within the community, currently serving as a member of the Board of Director’s of the Tantasqua Education (T.E.D.) Foundation, in addition to being a current and founding Board member of the REAS Foundation.

Jeff expressed his confidence that, “the business community would demonstrate their great sense of corporate citizenship in support of this endeavor on behalf of Charlton seniors”. He added that“…the local business community has historically played a key role in addressing local needs, and this is the type of local issue that resonates with all of us”.

Donations may be sent to the Charlton REAS Chapter, PO Box 793, Charlton, MA 01507.

Information and applications may be obtained by calling  508-434-4402 , or by email at infocharlton@reasfoundation.org.

The REAS Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of a Chapter in Charlton, MA.

Concerned about the burden shouldered by seniors balancing the challenges of energy, food, and medical costs against the diminished purchasing power of fixed incomes, a group of Charlton residents began exploring options for assisting seniors.

Lead by Charlton Police Chief James Pervier and Charlton Council on Aging Director Elaine Kingston, the group examined various mechanisms over the last two months for providing energy assistance to qualifying Charlton seniors.Those efforts, more and more began to parallel the approach taken in Sturbridge through the REAS Foundation, and ultimately lead to discussions favoring the establishment of a REAS Chapter in Charlton.

Over the last several weeks, representatives from Charlton and Sturbridge have worked closely together in transitioning from a conceptual proposal to the creation of the Charlton chapter.

REAS Foundation Executive Director – Thomas R. Creamer, expressed his “gratitude for the efforts of all involved” and particularly noted “the extensive work done by Charlton representatives well in advance of any discussions between Charlton and the REAS Foundation”. Mr. Creamer noted “the REAS Foundation merely became a vehicle for channeling all of the hard work already done by Chief Pervier, Elaine Kingston, Lt. Carl Ekman, Jayne Vranos, and others on behalf of Charlton seniors.

Ms. Kingston, who has been appointed as Chapter Director stated that she “is thrilled and excited at the prospects of being able to provide much needed energy assistance to qualifying Charlton seniors”. She went on to say that, “we’ve been working at this over the last two months, and it’s rewarding to see it come to fruition.” Ms. Kingston also announced that Southbridge Savings Bank has “indicated its intention to provide the Chapter with a $2000 start-up donation”, matching its donation to the REAS Foundation when it was established in Sturbridge this past July.

Chief Pervier, who led many of the discussions, stated he was “gratified that we have arrived at this point and can now begin the work of education, fundraising, and distribution of grants to qualifying seniors”. Chief Pervier added that “during an unstable economy, our seniors, many of whom live on limited fixed incomes barely able to keep pace with rising costs, will become significantly more vulnerable during these economic downturns. This Chapter provides us an additional tool with which to address those concerns.

REAS Foundation Chairman of the Board – Scott Garieri – offered his congratulations to the group in Charlton, “welcoming the Chapter into the REAS family”. Mr. Garieri added that “this is an exciting opportunity for residents and seniors in Charlton to address a local issue with a local solution, as all funds raised in Charlton will remain in Charlton just as they do in Sturbridge. Our fundamental approach at REAS is a community-centered solution wherein local people help local people; in this case, it will be Charlton People – Helping Charlton People and that keeps ownership within the community.”

Information about the Charlton Chapter can be obtained by calling 508-434-4402 , by email at infocharlton@reasfoundation.org, or by visiting their website at http://www.reasfoundation.org/charlton.

Donations may be sent to Charlton REAS Chapter, P.O. Box 793, Charlton, MA 01507.