Help 2 Others (H2O) financial assistance program

Help 2 Others (H2O) financial assistance program is sponsored by City of Oklahoma City Utilities Department (administered by Salvation Army). This program provides annual funds to the Salvation Army to assist Oklahoma City Utilities Department water customers who need help paying their Utilities bill.

_The City of OKC Utilities Department sends this information as posted below:_ February is the month of love, and what better way to show kindness than by helping a neighbor in need? The Oklahoma City Utilities Department’s Help 2 Others (H2O) program makes it easy for customers to lend a helping hand by rounding up their monthly water bill to the nearest dollar.

And with today being National Random Acts of Kindness Day, there’s no better time to turn a small gesture into a big impact. The H2O program provides one-time financial assistance to customers to help keep their water flowing. “The need in our community is greater than many people realize,” Utilities Customer Service Superintendent Michelle Lisenby said.

“Every month, hundreds of customers, many of which are families, struggle to pay their water bill, yet only a small percentage of our customers contribute to Help 2 Others. We would love to see more people join in—because even a little bit can make a big difference for the program. ” Founded in partnership with the Salvation Army in 2002, H2O is funded exclusively through customer donations.

In 2024, Utilities customers raised more than $113,000 to help those in need. Oklahoma State law prohibits municipal utilities from using ratepayer funds to provide direct financial assistance to customers, making Help 2 Others a much-needed program. **How can customers support the H2O program?

** Participation is easy and can be customized based on preference. Customers can register to automatically round up their bill each month, set a specific donation amount on a recurring basis, or choose a one-time gift at any time convenient to them. Proceeds are put into a fund administered by the Central Oklahoma Area Command of the Salvation Army, which screens individuals for eligibility.

All donations are tax deductible and applied after regular water, wastewater, solid waste and other fees have been added to a customer’s bill. 100 percent of the contributions are used to assist Oklahoma City Utilities customers. “Our community is strongest when we look out for one another,” Lisenby said.

“A small donation can be life-changing for someone facing hardship—a senior on a fixed income, a single parent working hard to get by or a neighbor who just needs temporary help. ” Customers who may need bill pay assistance are encouraged to call the Salvation Army at (405) 246-1100 to see if they qualify to enroll.

In addition to H2O, the Utilities Department offers other assistance options, including installment payment plans and a reduced trash rate for qualified customers. For more information on the H2O program and other assistance options, please visitOKC. gov/Utilities.

**About the City of Oklahoma City Utilities Department** The Utilities Department is committed to providing water, wastewater, and trash collection services throughout central Oklahoma to safeguard public health and the environment, support public safety, and enable economic prosperity. Through programs like H2O, the department strives to support the community and ensure all customers have access to essential services.