North Carolina’s cold winter led to higher energy bills, more calls for help

By: Greg Childress

Outlets: North Carolina Newsline

Published: May 11, 2026

Words: 1,306

Last Updated: 2 months ago

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After a multi-week cold snap this past winter, Carol Hardison, CEO of Crisis Assistance Ministry in Charlotte, braced for a surge in requests for help paying higher utility bills.

After seeing spikes in their own bills, longtime donors began calling the nonprofit to ask how they could help.

“The donors knew they could absorb the spike, but they started thinking about the people here,” Hardison said.

The nonprofit that Hardison oversees provides emergency assistance …

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