Whitman Senior Center Fuel Assistance Funds Dry Up Weeks Before Season Ends

WHITMAN -- March 11, 2026, Whitman Council on Aging reports fuel assistance funds fully exhausted with weeks left in heating season. The Council on Aging met March 11 and heard from its director that self-help organizations have run out of fuel assistance money and the state is not releasing additional allocations, even though the program is designed to run through April. The Salvation Army emergency reserve, which has historically provided at least 100 gallons to households in crisis, is also depleted. The director called it "the first time since I've been doing it that there's no more funds anywhere." The meeting also featured a recap of February programming, including a painting workshop, a chopsticks class, and popular Singo sessions now held monthly, as well as news that a blizzard wiped out the senior center's final week of February events, including a snowy owl presentation and a 1970s-themed gathering, both of which will be rescheduled.