It has been a while since I posted here, but I read the posts every day. Now I need your help. I'll apologize now in case this gets too long. OK-I am going to be 62 years old in Sept. I lost my job in May 2008, and I fell and sustained a TBI in May 2009. I filed for disability and have a hearing in Sept. I have not had any income since my unemployment stopped in the spring of 2010.

I do receive food stamps, Medicaid, and Temporary Assistance (which only covers my car and house insurance). I qualified for LIHEAP last winter. Usually they give your oil company a set amount of money to help pay your oil bill. From people I've spoken to, they say that it is usually enough to last you through the winter, and if you are careful, and can borrow some money from someone to keep your tank partially filled, you'll have enough left to keep your hot water on until the following fall.

Well because the price of oil was so high last winter, my allotment was totally used up and only filled the tank half full. I thought by keeping my house at no higher than 55 degrees, and only using hot water for a shower once a week, I would be able to stretch it out, which it did with the small amount I had to last the whole winter. But 6 weeks ago, I totally ran out. The HEAP program only runs Nov. to Feb. And they told me that there are not any other programs to help. In the past, I've had help from my church, my family and friends, but now they are struggling with the economy and can't afford to help me any more (if I had the money, I'd help them). Besides the TBI, I have lupus, fibromyalgia, lymphedema from breast cancer surgery, degenerative disk disease, and langerhans cell histiocytosis (a blood disorder which is so rare that chances are 1 out of 750,000 of getting it-lucky me-too bad it doesn't work like that when I play the lottery!)

I cannot find anyone who can help me get oil and was just wondering if any of you might have ideas where I could get help. I've called a lot of places, but I'm sure there must be something I haven't tried yet. People and organizations are just plain out of money.

I don't mind washing my hair in cold water-it actually feels good when it is hot out. But taking a shower in freezing cold water, even in the summer, is not such a great thing with the illnesses I have.

So any ideas you might have will be greatly appreciated. It is still quite a while until November, and I pray is stays warm until then, when I can apply for HEAP again.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. God Bless. Kathy