AKWESASNE -- The St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council assisted senior tribe members with electric bills and heat.

They gave 214 people age 70 and up $75 per month for April, May and June, the tribe said.

“We are pleased with everyone’s combined efforts that contributed to the success of the Elder’s Electricity Assistance Pilot Project,” stated Tribal Chief Beverly Cook. “It has been our pleasure to make this possible and we continue to appreciate the positive comments from tribal seniors who have received the financial assistance.”

The response and results from the initial disbursement in April 2015 indicated that the majority of the 214 tribal seniors who benefited from the pilot project chose to use the financial assistance for their electric bills. A hundred seventy-eight applied toward National Grid, nine for Massena Electric, 26 for Sunrise Acres rental assistance, and one with NYSEG, the tribe said.

“The assistance has been wonderful and it has made a huge difference for our fixed incomes,” said Barbara Lazore, a tribal elder who benefitted from the program. “We appreciate whatever tribal assistance we can get.”

To help elders with their energy costs, Tribal Council in collaboration with the Compliance Department, tribal administration and the tribe’s chief financial officer developed the pilot program. They worked during a time of fiscal constraint to identify and provide indirect financial support to tribal elders, while being fiscally responsible, the tribe said.