SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - Thousands of area families are worried about being left in the cold this heating season.
Cuts and delays in assistance programs leave many households trying to figure out how they can afford to stay warm.
A relatively new program is trying to help.
It's the Gift of Warmth program that kicked off Wednesday at the Mall at Steamtown in Scranton.
The United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties launched this program last year.

"We have one single goal. Our goal is to insure that no one in this community freezes to death, said Gary Drapek, president of United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties.

Organizers didn't think they needed to launch the program a second year, but the economy and this year's state budget battle delivered a wicked 1-2 punch.
Drapek says 2-thousand or more homes that received state grants last year through the LIHEAP program aren't getting that help this year. The United Way is calling on the community to donate. Some are already pitching in.
Airline Petroleum of Dunmore is contributing 5-thousand dollars to the cause.

"With the economy right now how it is, we just really wanted to get out there and help. And with the holiday season coming around everybody could use a little extra help," said Brooke Beier of Airline Petroleum.

And the Mall at Steamtown is calling on mall vendors to donate items and services to baskets that'll be raffled off to shoppers.

"It's a way for people to donate a little bit of money and maybe possibly win back something for the holidays, " said Mall at Steamtown Marketing Director Arthur Levandoski

And a way to provide desperately needed heating help to struggling households.

"There are basic necessities in life and it's a roof over your head, food on the table and it's heat and shelter and warmth," said Drapek. "And we're trying to provide that through this program."

The United Way says budget challenged households are dealing with another problem.
The crisis grant program for heating was pushed back from this month to January -- increasing the need for financial help.