Care and Share – neighbors helping neighbors

Each year the Historic City family of companies make charitable donations that we feel enhance the quality of life for St. Augustine’s residents and visitors. This year will be no different and we are pleased to announce the focus of our holiday giving.

The Gold family announced today that the St. Augustine Care and Share Program will be the charitable organization who receives our support and contributions for 2009. Last year, St. Augustine Society, Inc., the Florida non-profit corporation that operates the St. Francis House Shelter in Lincolnville, was selected.

Through the city’s Care and Share Program, St. Augustine’s utility customers have a unique opportunity to give a helping hand – all year long – to their neighbors in need.

Care and Share is a fund used to help cover the costs of water and sewer service for those in need. Program funds come from utility customers who request a small amount be added to their bills each month. Those donations are deposited into a special account used only to assist others who need help paying their utility bills.

Michael Gold, Editor and Publisher of our media company, HISTORIC CITY NEWS, made the announcement this morning and confirmed the selection. “Not only for my residence, personally, but also for our family businesses in the city, we will begin making donations effective January 1 and continuing through the end of 2010”, Gold said.

Any utility customer having difficulty meeting all or part of a month’s payment because of a temporary hardship is eligible to receive assistance from the program administered by Catholic Charities.

Those in need contact the agency and, when the need is confirmed, they receive a payment voucher for all or part of a month’s utility bill. The voucher is presented to the city water department and the amount is deducted from their bill.

Gold added, “Another of our businesses, JR UNIFORM COMPANY, which was established in St. Augustine in 1926, is promoting Care and Share by handing out flyers to our retail customers; encouraging them to join with us in supporting this worthwhile cause.”

Utility customers wishing to participate by donating to the Care and Share Program may sign-up by contacting the city’s customer service department at 825.1037.

“I am always proud and humbled by the generosity of our friends, customers and family who traditionally join our companies in helping local charitable organizations in times of need”, Gold said.