Cowlitz PUD Volunteers Raise $47,000 for Warm Neighbor Fund—A Record-Breaking Effort Supporting Local Families

Cowlitz PUD is proud to announce that this year’s Weekend for Warm Neighbor fundraising event raised a $47,000. This milestone reflects the unwavering commitment of our volunteers, the leadership of the Weekend for Warm Neighbor Planning Committee, and the generosity of our sponsors

.We extend our heartfelt thanks to our title sponsor, 1898 & Co., and our supporting sponsors: Bell Lumber & Pole, Columbia Wellness, The Okonite Company, Pac Tech, JH Kelly, Blue Scope, OneSource, Schnabel Engineering, Propel Insurance, and Lower Columbia Longshore Federal Credit Union. Their contributions helped make this achievement possible.

For over 25 years, the Warm Neighbor Fund has played a vital role in our community, offering assistance to families in Cowlitz County who are struggling to pay their electric bills but do not qualify for other aid programs. Entirely funded through donations, events, and employee contributions, the program continues to be a lifeline for many.

This year’s success was driven by two key events:

•Eat for Heat – Our locally sourced meal kit program remains a community favorite. Since its launch in 2017, it has served over 2,000 meals, raised $80,000 for the Warm Neighbor Fund, and supported local businesses with $70,000 in purchases from restaurants, breweries, wineries, and farms. This year, it partnered with United Way’s Day of Caring and FISH to expand its reach and impact.

•A Weekend for Warm Neighbor – Introduced in 2024, this annual event now includes the Warm Neighbor Golf Tournament, building on the momentum of Eat for Heat. Last year’s inaugural weekend raised over $28,000. This year, we surpassed that with a record-breaking $47,000—bringing us within reach of our annual fundraising goal of $48,000.

Thanks to the dedication and generosity of our community, we are poised to exceed our goal and extend support to even more families in need. To everyone who contributed time, energy, and heart—thank you. Your efforts are making a real difference.