Clara Dawson had spent the better part of 50 years in her cozy house in Harford County, Maryland. Her husband, Frank, had been her rock—a retired schoolteacher with a gentle laugh and a fondness for humming old jazz tunes while tinkering with the garden. When Clara lost him suddenly last fall, the silence in their home was deafening.
Living on a single Social Security check wasn’t easy. Clara pinched every penny—cutting coupons, stretching meals, and making do. But that bitter February brought more than snow. Her heating bills soared, and her savings were nearly gone. She bundled up in layers and heated just one room, but her joints ached and her spirits sank.
One morning, as she clutched a lukewarm mug of tea, Clara came across a flyer at the local library about the Fuel Fund of Maryland. She hesitated—she’d never asked for help before. But the cold had grown too fierce, and pride couldn’t warm her toes.
Silver Lights, created in 2020 as a result of a global pandemic, is a specialized utility assistance program that provides financial grants to qualifying older adult households (60+). Clara found information on Silver Lights and following the directions on our website, she applied for financial assistance. Within a week, Clara received a financial grant that took care of her bill and lifted a heavy weight off her shoulders.
“I felt seen which can sometimes not be easy for someone my age,” Clara told her neighbors later. “I had no idea that Silver Lights existed, and I am so glad I found it.”
The kindness of strangers and the work of the Fuel Fund gave Clara more than heat—it gave her hope. Click here to donate to help other’s struggling.