KOTA Territory NewsPeople in KOTA Territory 'Walk for Warmth' and raise money to help those in need

People in KOTA Territory 'Walk for Warmth' and raise money to help those in need

Nearly half of all households in the nation turned to the government for heating assistance between 2007 and 2010. And it's a need local leaders say is growing in KOTA Territory.

Today, hundreds of people worked to raise money to help low income people pay their power bills.

"I came because my dad made me," says Ryan Emery.

Ryan Emery, 11, may have been forced to show up, but walking along with hundreds of others changed his mind.

"I had quite a bit of fun. I walked with my friend and we talked," says Emery.

The first annual Walk for Warmth was sponsored by Black Hills Power and their new program, Black Hills Cares.

"We're hoping to gather hundreds of people to simply do one thing, raise some funds for people in need of energy assistance," says Mutch Usera, with Black Hills Power.

Mutch Usera with Black Hills Power, says the company has given back for years and this is just another way they are trying to help those in need.

"We're hoping to match dollar for dollar anybody that comes and walks, up to $10,000 dollars. So we're hoping to give that 10 thousand back to those agencies," says Usera.

Those agencies are Church Response and the Black Hills Area Salvation Army.

Both agencies have seen an increase of 30 and 41% respectively, in the number of people who need help to pay their utility bills.

"Even though they think right now it's been an easy winter, because there's no snow. Our cold weather has still been around. You still have to heat your home and that sill costs money," says Major Jim Beardsley with the Black Hills Area Salvation Army.

Church Response gives out more than $2,000 a month to help families pay utility bills. The Salvation Army spends about $1,000 a month. And Beardsley says the money runs out by summer.

"41% of our clients coming in the door are new. So that means there's a new group of people out there who're saying I just need a little help," says Beardsley.

Help the community is happy to give.

"Everyone has just pulled together and it just shows our community is saying, we love it, we care and there's a need for that. It's not just about the dollars; this is a feel good day because people were able to give," says Beardsley.

"I thought it was a really neat idea to help people in our community," says Val Simpson of Rapid City.