P.E.I. Salvation Army hopes to help more with home heating assistance program

The recent drop in the price of furnace oil in P.E.I. may help the Salvation Army's home heating assistance program to benefit more people.

The Salvation Army locations in Charlottetown and Summerside provide one time assistance with winter heating costs through funds provided by the provincial government and donations from the P.E.I. Petroleum Marketers Association.

The provincial government increased the amount it provides to the program.

Major Daniel Roode says he hopes the program's funds will go further this year with lower prices. 

Furnace oil down is down 13 cents a litre since Jan. 2015.

"What it means is that when there are folk who are in need, they look to us for help with that. We're only as good as the resources we have. So lower oil prices will mean that we might be able to help a few more people," said Roode.

Roode says demand for the home heating assistance program increases every year and he doesn't expect this year to be an exception.

About 200 families were helped last year.