[02/01/01] The Salvation Army has received a $30,000 donation from Rainbow Casino and Hotel in Vicksburg to assist people paying heating expenses.

Of the total, $20,000 is going to Jackson residents and $10,000 to people who live here.

“Rainbow has been the first donation we’ve received for this, but we’re hoping it will encourage other casinos and businesses to donate also and help out residents,” said Cathy Marshall, office manager at the local Salvation Army.

“It’s pretty obvious that a lot of the lower-income people are going to be struggling significantly, trying to pay their utility bills, so this will hopefully assist some of those people,” said Curt Follmer, general manager and senior vice president for Rainbow.

To qualify for assistance from the Salvation Army, residents must supply a copy of their current bill and the bill from the previous month. The bill must be in the client’s name and payment will be made for only one bill, either electric, gas or propane.

“This is a great help,” said Capt. John Showers of the Salvation Army in Vicksburg. “Instead of only being able to pay $25 to $30 of someone’s bill, we can pay most of it. But we are going to encourage them to come up with some of the bill themselves and we will help with the rest of it.”

Representatives of the casino say they hope other businesses will follow suit to help residents struggling to heat their homes.

“I can’t imagine living on a fixed income and having something you plan ahead for escalate so drastically,” said Follmer.