McKim, Engle and Pennington said helping those in need is a constant struggle.

“It happens every year,” McKim said. “The demand for assistance is constantly increasing and it seems that the amount of funding is slowly decreasing.”

Scott Niles can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at sjniles@mchsi.com.

Energy assistance

For more information, contact Judith Engle at SIEDA at (641) 682-8741 and/or Capt. Jamie Pennington at (641) 682-7597

$2M added to Iowa energy program

DES MOINES (AP) — Another $2 million in federal funds will help low-income people in Iowa pay their winter heating bills this year, Sen. Tom Harkin said.

Harkin said the money is part of $131 million the Bush administration released in emergency money for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program — LIHEAP.

Funding for the program in Iowa ran out, cutting the average award in the state last winter by 30 percent.

Harkin said he urged the administration to make more money available.

“With chilling fall and winter seasons around the corner, thousands of Iowans who rely on this crucial program will require assistance to make ends meet,” Harkin said.