LAWRENCE, Mass., Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today,
Massachusetts Governor
Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor
Karyn Polito, Lawrence Mayor Daniel
Rivera, Andover Town Manager Andrew
Flanagan, North Andover Town Manager Andrew Maylor and Beth
Francis of the Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF)
joined Columbia Gas of Massachusetts President Steve Bryant in announcing a $10 million contribution by Columbia Gas to the
Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund at Essex County Community
Foundation. The Fund will help serve the short and medium term
needs of impacted residents, including housing, sustenance and
support services.
The relief fund, which will be managed by the Essex County
Community Foundation, was announced Monday by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, along with leaders from
Lawrence, Andover, and North
Andover and other state leaders.
"The gas explosions in greater Lawrence have devastated families and
displaced many people, and this generous contribution from Columbia
Gas will help residents with immediate needs," said Governor
Charlie Baker. "This donation will
jumpstart efforts to support the Merrimack Valley with access to
short term assistance and services during a most difficult
time."
"After the gas crisis, we are in the process of rebuilding the
greater Lawrence area, both
mentally and physically," said Mayor Daniel
Rivera. "I want to thank Columbia Gas for living up to their
corporate responsibility with this $10
million donation, and I will continue to advocate and fight
alongside Town Managers Maylor and Flanagan, Governor Baker and
Lieutenant Governor Polito to ensure that no resident affected by
the gas crisis has to worry about cost as we work to repair our
communities."
"The citizens of greater Lawrence are truly hurting, and our hearts go
out to the entire community," Columbia Gas of Massachusetts
President Steve Bryant said. "The
people of these communities expect us to provide comprehensive and
meaningful support, and we are committed to doing so. In addition
to the direct assistance we are providing -- and will continue to
provide -- to our customers, this contribution represents our
commitment to the long term recovery of the entire community."
Donations for the Sept. 13 fire
victims are currently being made to the Lawrence Emergency Fund at
www.eccf.org/LawrenceEmergencyFund. Once the new Greater Lawrence
Disaster Relief Fund is formally activated, the donations will be
combined. Both funds will support the work of meeting the needs of
people affected in the communities of Lawrence, Andover and North
Andover.
Columbia's helpline for customers affected by the
Sept. 13 incident is
1-866-388-3239. Columbia also is assisting all impacted
residents with their immediate needs, such as food, child care and
reasonable accommodations for displaced residents. To file an
assistance claim, residents can call the Columbia Gas Property
Claims Helpline at 1-800-590-5571 or visit www.columbiagasma.com
for information about the assistance process and the location and
hours of local claim centers. Claim centers will remain in
operation to serve Merrimack Valley residents throughout the
recovery process.
General assistance also is available via the Recovery Resource
Center at Arlington Middle School, 150 Arlington St., Lawrence, established to provide services and
programs to meet the needs of Lawrence, Andover and North
Andover residents.
About Columbia Gas of Massachusetts
Columbia Gas of
Massachusetts delivers clean,
affordable and efficient natural gas to over 320,000 natural gas
customers in southeastern Massachusetts, the greater Springfield area and the Merrimack
Valley. Headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts, the company is the
largest gas-only provider in the state and is one of NiSource's
seven regulated utility companies. NiSource (NYSE:NI) is one of the
largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.5
million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers
through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. More
information about Columbia Gas of Massachusetts is available at
www.ColumbiaGasMa.com NI-F
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SOURCE Columbia Gas of Massachusetts