City of Fountain - Pure Colorado

Lighten the Load is a voluntary contribution program developed by Fountain Utilities.  Its purpose is to provide funds to assist eligible residential Fountain Utility Customers with a temporary, short tern payment of their past due utility bill.

The Pikes Peak Community Action Agency (www.ppcaa.org), located at the Walt Fortman Community Center, on 501 East Iowa Avenue, is the sole distribution agency for the Lighten the Load program.  The role of the Walt Fortman Community Action Agency is to be the first point of contact, to determine eligibility.

About the Program

Lighten the Load is an opt-in program and any individual can donate via their utility bill.  This can be done by stopping by the Fountain Utility Office and filling out a form to round up the amount on the utility bill to the next dollar or by donating a monetary amount each month.

Our Community

There is a great need for this type of assistance in the Fountain Valley area.  From its inception of January of 2006 there have been numerous Fountain Valley citizens assisted.  Fountain is a small but giving community, so the next time you get your utility bill call the Fountain Utility Department (719) 322-2010 for more information on how you can contribute.

Our Successes

Job Loss - Disabled and homebound, Mr. X helps out around the house with the children and miscellaneous chores.  When his wife lost her job they fell behind with their utility bill.  Lighten the Load bridged the gap until they could secure employment.  They hope to never need it again, but are grateful Lighten the Load was there during their rough ride.

Left Alone - Her husband left her alone with three children and one on the way.  She had employment and what little money she had set aside while on maternity leave would not help her to survive.  After the birth of her child, she returned to work with a mountain of bills.  Lighten the Load was able to help this single mother keep her lights on until her paychecks began to come regularly.

Unexpected Injury - This hard working family lives from paycheck to paycheck.  Their son's severe injury and medications, dad's missed workday tending to his son, and insurance co-pays left the family short on money for their bills.  With the help from the information on the back of the utility bill, they were directed to Lighten the Load, which helped them pay the bill.  By their next payday the family could breathe a little easier.