IN West Mifflin Spring 2019 | Page 9

helping limited-income customers with winter heating bills. LIHEAP is a federally funded grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) that helps income-eligible families pay winter heating costs. Grants are also available for residents without heat or in danger of being without heat. For the 2018-2019 winter heating season, the minimum LIHEAP grant is $200. LIHEAP is applied directly to a customer’s utility bill. Customers who qualify can also benefit from Peoples’ Customer Assistance Program (CAP), which can provide lower monthly bills year-round. Peoples’ heating “hotline,” 1.800.400.WARM (9276), can assist with program information and guidelines. LIHEAP funds are limited. Peoples urges eligible homeowners and renters to apply as soon as possible. Eligibility guidelines for LIHEAP change, and customers who may not have been eligible last year are encouraged to reapply. The income eligibility limit for the 2018- 2019 LIHEAP is 150% of the federal poverty income guidelines. This means individuals with an annual income of up to $18,210 are eligible. A family of four can earn an annual income of up to $37,650. LIHEAP closes on April 12, or earlier if funds run out. Customers are encouraged to apply online through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Service website (COMPASS) at compass.state. pa.us. To apply, the customer must provide the following information: 1. Names of all people in the household 2. Birth dates for all people in the household 3. Social Security numbers for all members of the household 4. Proof of income for all members of the household 5. A copy of a recent heating bill Learn more about LIHEAP and other programs available to help Peoples customers at peoples-gas.com/LIHEAP. n Cornerstone Christian Preparatory Academy Principal Brandon McCall, left, presents a thank-you card and a gift to All-American VFW Post 914 Intrepid Commander Jake Bradich. The local veterans joined with the school Nov. 12 for a ceremony lauding all those who served in the armed forces of the United States. WEST MIFFLIN VFW POST 914 AND CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN HONOR VETERANS At the centennial year marking the end of World War I, members of All- American Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid joined with Cornerstone Christian Preparatory Academy in West Mifflin for a ceremony lauding all those who served in the armed forces of the United States. Approximately 300 students, faculty, veterans and other attendees filled the school’s activity hall on Clairton Road to honor local soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who served to protect America’s interests around the world. Among those veterans praised during the ceremony for their military service were relatives of the students and staff, including a servicemember who was wounded while posted in the Middle East. According to event organizer and language arts teacher Ashley Smock, the students at Cornerstone Christian were able to take away from the ceremony a valuable lesson. “Veterans embody what it means to lay down one’s life for a friend, and are such integral parts of our nation’s history,” she said. “We wanted to set aside time to give them the respect—an honor that those men and women deserve for their sacrifice and bravery—while teaching our young people a lifelong lesson about honor and respect.” The event included musical selections performed by elementary school students, as well as a bagpipe melody. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid West Mifflin presented the colors, and were honored with other assembled veterans with a presentation made by middle and high school students. Remarks were given by school principal and history instructor Brandon McCall, who quoted Medal of Honor recipient, and President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. According to Smock, this is the school’s third Veterans Day program as Cornerstone Christian Preparatory Academy. The annual remembrance ceremony for veterans, however, began when the school was known as Wilson Christian Academy. Other ways that Cornerstone Christian supports the military include having the students and staff dress up for America Day and raising funds for veterans service organizations such as the American Legion and the VFW. For more information about VFW Post 914 and its activities, visit the group’s website at http://traa.weebly.com/vfw-post-914.html. WEST MIFFLIN ❘ SPRING 2019 7