YEC will match donations up to $100,000
As our members and community face unprecedented times and financial crises because of the coronavirus pandemic, your co-op wants to help. We are asking for your support as we try to make a difference for those who need it most.
Have an extra $5? Consider making a voluntary, tax-deductible donation for one or two months to our new Give $5 program. Designed to help your neighbors in need, Give $5 creates a common place to collect donations for those who are willing and able to assist. Give $5 – or as much as you would like – and YEC will match the donations up to $100,000!
How will the money be distributed?
Money will be collected by YEC, then given to local help agencies to distribute to those who need it most, but we are counting on you to help us reach our goal. Together, we have the power to make a difference. Like your co-op, this is a program you can trust. We will work together to lift each other up during this challenging time. Every dollar helps and the more money we raise, the bigger impact we can make.
Your TAX-DEDUCTIBLE donation
Any donation given to the Give $5 program will be tracked by YEC and will appear as a line item on your December billing statement. We recommend retaining this statement for your tax records.
Looking for help?
We know many of you are currently out of work, so we would like to remind you that our member services team is ready to help you manage your account. Although we are just beginning to raise money and we do not have any funds available right now for distribution, we want you to stay in-the-know on how this program may benefit you. If you feel this program could help you because of hardships created by the coronavirus pandemic, please watch for future communications which will report how much we have raised and when funds are available for distribution. If you are already behind on your electric bill payment, please call our office at 803-684-4248 so that we can help. Our member services team looks forward to speaking with you.
FAQ
What is Give $5?
Give $5 is a voluntary donation program where York Electric members who are willing and able can donate $5 (or more) for one or two months to other members in need of help because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Members receiving help must be subject for disconnection.
How do I sign up?
Members can sign up to give by completing the online form above, by calling our member services team at 803-684-4248, or by emailing . If you are sending an email, be sure to include the total amount you wish to give per month and how many months you would like to see your donation.
How will I know the program has been added to my account?
When you sign up with one of the three methods mentioned, you will receive a confirmation email showing your total donation. You will also see a line item on your electric bill statement reflecting that month’s donation.
Give $5 is tax-deductible. How will I receive information to report with my 2020 taxes?
You will see a donation total for Give $5 on your December electric bill statement that you will need to retain for your records.
What is the goal of the program?
Give $5 is being supported by our generous members, and will be matched up to $100,000 by York Electric and our Operation Round Up program, with a goal of giving back $300,000.
If I need help, what should I do?
We encourage all members seeking assistance to first contact YEC. We can discuss your past-due account and help you make a plan to manage your account. Our team is always willing to help! Give us a call at 803-684-4248.
How will money be distributed to members in need?
Money collected will be distributed to four help agencies in our area. Residential members can receive up to $200 in assistance. We urge you to contact our member services team before contacting a help agency so that we can make sure you have what you need. If applicable, the member must also sign a contract for any remaining balance to be paid before any Give $5 assistance funds are allocated to the account. Members in need will be asked to visit one of four help agencies in York County so that we can best serve you:
- Fort Mill Care Center, serving residents of Fort Mill and Tega Cay
- PATH, serving residents of York
- Clover Area Assistance Center, serving residents of Clover
- Project Hope, serving primarily residents in Rock Hill, but also the entire county
Members living in Cherokee, Chester, and Lancaster Counties will need to contact our member services team to discuss their account. We will advise them which help agency will best serve them.
What will I need before visiting one of these help agencies?
We urge you to contact our member services team before contacting a help agency so that we can make sure you have what you need. Required documentation includes:
- Photo IDs and Social Security Cards for each person living in the household
- Proof of income for each person over the age of 18
- 3 months of electric bill statements
- 2 months of bank statements
- Any other documentation showing income or assistance (SSI, disability, food stamps, etc.)
Can Advance Pay members receive assistance?
Yes, Advance Pay members can receive assistance. You will need to be prepared to show the help agency your past-due alert text messages, in addition to the other documentation required to receive assistance. We urge you to contact our member services team before contacting a help agency so that we can make sure you have what you need and visit the right one for your account.
Can business accounts receive assistance?
Yes! If you are a business in need of assistance, please contact our member services team at 803-684-4248 to discuss your account. Assistance from Give $5 will be distributed to businesses based on need, with the maximum contribution equaling $500.
How will payments made on members’ accounts be tracked?
Each help agency will report monthly on YEC members who received Give $5 assistance, listing the date, member’s name, account number, and amount received.
How will YEC receive funds from the help agencies?
Each help agency pays YEC either per day or per week to assist members in need. Advance Pay accounts will require extra communication between YEC and the help agency to assure funds are received in time before the account is disconnected.
- Fort Mill Care Center – payments are made each Monday
- PATH – payments are made each Friday
- Clover Area Assistance Center – payments are mailed each Thursday
- Project Hope – payments are made daily at the remote pay station in Rock Hill
Can a member receive help more than once?
So that the program is fair and consistent, members will only be allowed to receive assistance once from Give $5.
What if I’m not offered enough assistance to help my account status?
YEC’s member services team is prepared to work with members on a case by case basis, creating up to an 8-month contract for payments. Additionally, all four help agencies and the member services team are prepared to communicate extreme circumstances with the management team for special consideration.
What is the timeline for this program?
Our members received their first piece of communication about the program on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, through an eBlast. We will gauge participation from this initial communication before following with a magazine article, bill stuffers, social media campaigns, and website videos.
Members seeking assistance will not be able to receive help until the state of emergency has been lifted for South Carolina. YEC is prepared to help members manage their delinquent accounts now and will be communicating with each delinquent member 21 days before the anticipated date disconnections resume. Additionally, we will communicate directly with help agencies about this timeline so they can prepare to receive clients. We will also let members know when funds from the Give $5 program become available at help agencies for members to receive.