Bringing Christmas cheer

Alexis Barker
NLJ Reporter
 
The Newcastle Ministerial Association is ramping up for their annual holiday giving program, and the organization received an unexpected boost in its collection effort last month when a local utility company chose the non-profit for its own holiday giving campaign.
“Just in time for the holidays, the Powder River Energy Foundation reached out to assist organizations across northeast Wyoming who are making a difference in the lives of so many of our friends and neighbors in need,” according to a press release dated Nov. 1 from the foundation. “The Powder River Energy Foundation donated $10,000 to 11 non-profit organizations in five counties through its annual 2018 Holiday Giving Campaign.” 
Recipients in Weston County include the Newcastle Ministerial Association Christmas Appeal and Home Loving Care of Weston County. Other counties receiving funds through the program are Campbell, Crook, Johnson and Sheridan Counties. 
“Each of the counties received $2,000 and these two organizations (Newcastle Ministerial Association Christmas Appeal and Home Loving Care of Weston County) each received $1,000,” said Tim Velder, a Powder River Energy spokesperson. 
Ken Pitlick, a member of the Newcastle Ministerial Association, said that the organization received $1,000 from the Powder River Energy Foundation and that the money will go toward the Christmas Appeal program that brings holiday cheer to needy families in the area. 
“This money [Powder River Energy Foundation] gave us now, every bit of it, will go towards the holiday season,” Pitlick said.
According to Pitlick, the money received from Powder River Energy will be combined with money collected to benefit different families through the program. 
Coffee cans will be set up at different locations, including ShopKo and Family Dollar, where families and donations will be collected, Pitlick said. 
“One container will be for the names of families in need and how many people are in the family, and another container will be for donation money,” Pitlick said. 
Pitlick said that members of the ministerial association will then sit down and tally the number of individuals in each family and total number of people, as well as the total amount that was donated to the Christmas appeals.
“We then take the total number of people and divide the amount of donation money by that number,” Pitlick said. “Usually they get between $10 and $15 per family member.” 
He noted that the money from Powder River Energy will probably increase the amount each family gets this year. 
The money is given through certificates to local businesses, including the grocery stores, Pitlick said, and the money has to be spent on food or Christmas-present-type items.