THAW: Needy Driven To Extreme Measures In The Cold

DETROIT (WWJ) This year THAW -- The Heat And Warmth Fund -- expects to assist nearly 12,000 people throughout Michigan who are struggling to keep their families out of the dangerous cold.

WWJ Newsradio 950's Marie Osborne has more on the work being done to help those families.

"There's always more people than we have funds to assist with," said Linda Burton, a resource coordinator at Perfecting Church in Detroit, who gets hundreds of requests for assistance every year. 'They're overwhelmed, don't know where to turn, where to go. When you have to tell them there's no assistance at this time, that's just another blow to them."

She said some of the stories are heartbreaking, including this one:

"We had one man, he didn't have any utilities on, he had a disabled son, he and his son were living in the home without any type of electric, he was making makeshift heat and they would sleep in one room, close the room up and sleep in that room," Burton said.

Burton's dream? That the money lasts as long as the need this winter.

WWJ's Winter Survival Radiothon to raise money for THAW continues until 10 p.m. Friday and resumes 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Get more information and donate HERE.

Since 2004, WWJ's THAW Radiothon has raised $3.5 million to help families in need throughout Michigan.