MONTOURSVILLE, Pa. — As temperatures continue to dip below freezing, many of us are staying inside with the heat turned up. But with home heating oil currently at about $3.50 a gallon, it's not affordable for everyone.
"It's a big chunk at once to order heating oil, and with the cost of everything going up in this world, if you have one pot of money, it doesn't go as far," said Vince Reeder, owner of Reeder Brothers Fuel Services in Montoursville.
Reeder Brothers has devised a solution for people struggling to stay warm this winter. Three years ago, Reeder started his nonprofit Hats for Heat by selling hats for $25.
"100 percent of the profits go right back into the community. It goes into heating oil tanks," Reeder said.
The nonprofit has raised nearly $100,000. All the money has gone into the heating oil tanks of people who can't afford to heat their homes.
A fundraiser will be held this Saturday and Sunday at the Loyalsock Hotel on Route 87 near Montoursville. There will be food and a basket auction, with 10 percent of the hotel's sales this weekend going to the Hats for Heat campaign.
"Breakfast and stuff there from 9-12. Breakfast sandwiches on Saturday, and then we'll have breakfast again on Sunday, too, if somebody wants to come out early for breakfast and then look around and put their money in the baskets," Loyalsock Hotel owner Evan Mumma said.
"If you want to see the good in the people, have a fundraiser. It shows you how many beautiful people are out there and people willing to give," Reeder added.