Energy Fund Kicks off Season With Donation Announcements

The Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund, or MAGoodNeighbor, launched its 2026-2027 “Give the Gift of Warmth” campaign last week.  The event brought together state leaders, participating energy companies, nonprofit partners and community stakeholders to support Massachusetts households experiencing temporary financial hardship.

Administered by The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division, MAGoodNeighbor provides home energy assistance to income-eligible residents who do not qualify for state or federal energy assistance. Applications for the 2026-2027 campaign opened October 19, and eligible households may receive a grant of up to $400 toward a monthly energy expense, with payments made directly to their energy provider.

Melissa Lavinson, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office of Energy Transformation, delivered the keynote address. The program also featured Vicki Graf, Boston 25 News meteorologist, who gave a winter weather outlook, and was emceed by Arianna MacNeill of Unitil External Affairs. Justin Stearns, Chair of the Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund, Major Valerie Kahn and Major Paul Cornell of The Salvation Army, and Massachusetts energy company leaders also participated.

“For more than four decades, the Good Neighbor Energy Fund has helped fill an important gap for Massachusetts households facing an unexpected financial setback,” said Justin Stearns, Chair, Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund. “Today’s kickoff underscored the generosity of our sponsoring energy companies, their customers and supporters across the Commonwealth. Together, we are helping households keep up with essential energy costs when they need it most.”

During the breakfast, representatives from participating energy companies presented their annual donations to MAGoodNeighbor in support of the 2026-2027 campaign. Contributions from energy companies, their customers, businesses and individual donors help ensure that assistance remains available to households whose incomes fall above the limits for many other programs but who may still need help navigating a temporary financial emergency. National Grid and Eversource Energy together contributed more than $325,000 to the Fund.

The event also included the presentation of the 18th Annual Chairman’s Award to Katina Polemenako of The Salvation Army, recognizing 40 years of dedicated community service and advocacy for the Fund.

During the 2025-2026 campaign, MAGoodNeighbor assisted more than 1,250 households across Massachusetts. Since its establishment in 1985, the Fund has raised more than $25.5 million and helped nearly 99,000 households with home energy expenses.

To qualify for the 2026-2027 campaign, applicants must have a gross household income between 60 and 80 percent of Massachusetts state median income levels and be ineligible for state or federal energy assistance. Residents may apply by contacting their local Salvation Army Corps Community Center or Service Extension Unit.

For more information about the Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund, including eligibility and ways to support the Fund, visit magoodneighbor.org⁠

About the Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund:

The Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund is available to any income-eligible Massachusetts resident who, because of temporary financial difficulty, cannot meet a month’s energy expense and is not eligible for state or federal energy assistance. Household income must fall between 60 and 80 percent of the state’s median income levels. Residents may apply for assistance by directly contacting their local Salvation Army Corps Community Center or Service Extension Unit. For more information or to donate, visit the Good Neighbor website or call 1-800-334-3047 (serving area codes 339, 351, 508, 617, 774, 781, 857, and 978) or 1-800-262-1320 (serving area code 413).