Local in Etowah County (10)
The Salvation Army - Gadsden
Salvation Army Etowah County
Local · Etowah County, AL
Emergency and overnight shelter (including a winter warming shelter), food pantry (Tuesdays, or by appointment), and help with rent, utilities, clothing and furniture as funds allow.
(256) 546-4673
- Who
- Etowah County residents in need; bring ID and proof of income
- Where
- 114 N 11th St, Gadsden 35901
- Good to know
- Warming shelter ran Dec 2024-Feb 2025; call to confirm it is open.
ABC Trust (Alabama Business Charitable Trust Fund)
Local · 57 Alabama counties
Helps pay heating and cooling bills through local community action agencies.
No phone listed · Website ↗
- Who
- Low-income families and households facing temporary financial problems.
- Good to know
- Apply through your county community action agency (agency finder: https://caaalabama.org/resources/agency-finder/). Funded by Alabama Power shareholders.
Catholic Center of Concern - Gadsden
Local · Etowah County, AL
Food pantry Thursdays 10am-2pm; also help with power bills and rent.
(256) 546-0028
- Who
- Etowah County residents in need
Catholic Center of Concern - Gadsden
Local · Etowah County, AL
Rent and utility help, prescriptions, food pantry, gas vouchers; Mon-Thu 9-11:30am & 1-2:30pm.
(256) 546-0028
- Who
- Low-income individuals and families regardless of religion; call for intake.
- Where
- 612 Chestnut St, Gadsden 35901
- Good to know
- Food pantry line (256) 546-7883; hours per WhyHunger listing.
Cherokee Electric Cooperative
Local · Calhoun, Cherokee, DeKalb, Etowah, Marshall Counties, AL
Levelized billing and senior/disability due-date matching (Cycle 64/65: bill due 8th or 22nd to match benefit check); office Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:15pm.
(256) 927-5524
- Who
- Members of the cooperative; hardship/elderly/disabled members for assistance funds.
- Where
- 1550 Clarence E Chesnut Jr Bypass, Centre, AL 35960
- Good to know
- Cycle form: https://www.cherokee.coop/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/CherokeeElectric-cycle-64-65-form.pdf (65+ or on disability/SSI; attach benefits letter). Outage (800) 952-2667. Counties from co-op site. Ask the co-op about payment extensions and medical/life-support flags; Alabama PSC Rule 12(E) does not regulate co-op disconnect rules, each co-op's own board policy applies.
Etowah Baptist Missions Center
Local · Etowah County, AL
Food, clothing and linens, plus help with utility cutoff or eviction notices; open Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9am-4pm (closed 12-1) and Wed 9-11:30am.
(256) 546-2980
- Who
- Etowah County residents
- Good to know
- Directories differ on the address (215 Wall St or 853 Walnut St, Gadsden) and phone (alt 256-547-1691); call first.
Project SHARE (Alabama Power / Salvation Army utility assistance)
Project Share
Local · 52 Alabama counties
Helps pay Alabama Power bills; apply at the listed agency for your county (Salvation Army office or community action agency).
(205) 328-2420
- Who
- Alabama Power customers in crisis, priority to older adults (60+) and people with disabilities.
- Where
- 2015 26th Ave N, Birmingham 35234
- Good to know
- County list = counties in the Project SHARE servicing-agency table (Alabama Power territory). Priority group is from general program info, confirm with agency.
Project SHARE (Alabama Power / Salvation Army) - statewide line
Project SHARE
Local · 57 Alabama counties
Emergency winter (and summer, if funds allow, for medical emergencies) power-bill help funded by Alabama Power customer donations; also serves rural electric co-op customers.
(205) 328-2420 ext. 2
- Who
- Low-income Alabamians age 60+ and/or disabled.
- Where
- PO Box 11005, Birmingham, AL 35202 (donations)
- Good to know
- Apply at the local Project SHARE partner agency for your county (separate entries); call ext. 2 for the local office. Program page says 57 counties served.
The Salvation Army Gadsden Corps
Local · Etowah County, AL
Emergency assistance and Project SHARE power-bill help; Mon-Thu 9am-4pm.
(256) 546-4673
- Who
- Low-income households in crisis in the service area; ID, proof of address/income and the past-due bill or lease usually required; aid depends on available funds.
- Where
- 120 N 11th St, Gadsden 35901
- Good to know
- Counties from Salvation Army ALM division location directory (salvationarmyusa.org/usa-southern-territory/alabama-louisiana-and-mississippi/location-directory/). Project SHARE lists 114 N 11th St.
Alabama Public Service Commission - utility complaints & disconnect rules
Local · 67 Alabama counties
Takes complaints about PSC-regulated utilities (Alabama Power, Spire); PSC General Rule 12(E) requires termination rules giving special consideration when life/health is threatened or for age/handicap.
No phone listed · Website ↗
- Who
- Customers of investor-owned utilities (not co-ops, municipal or most water boards).
- Good to know
- Rule 12(E) summary from LIHEAP Clearinghouse vulnerable-population disconnect page (liheapch.ncat.org/node/2812). PSC phone not verified here - see website.
Statewide programs that serve Etowah County (9)
LIHEAP energy assistance
Community Action of Etowah County
Statewide, AL
Federal energy help paid straight to the power or gas company. Every Alabama county is served by a Community Action Agency that takes the applications.
256-546-9271
- Who
- Income at or under 150% of the federal poverty level. Heating season: Oct 1 – Apr 30.
- Where
- 624 Broad St, Gadsden 35901
- Good to know
- This is the LIHEAP agency for Etowah County (ADECA list).
- Bring
- Photo ID
- Social Security cards for everyone in the home
- Last month's income proof for every adult
- Utility bill in the applicant's name
ABC Trust energy help
Alabama Business Charitable Trust (Alabama Power)
Statewide, AL
Emergency help with energy bills, given out through the county LIHEAP agency.
Ask the LIHEAP agency above
- Who
- Low-income households or those in temporary hardship
Alabama electric cooperatives (AREA)
Alabama Rural Electric Association
Statewide, AL
Points co-op members to their local electric cooperative for billing help.
1-800-410-2732
- Who
- Members of Alabama electric cooperatives
Alabama Power low-income bill credit
Alabama Power
Statewide, AL
A $14.50 monthly credit on the power bill.
1-800-245-2244
- Who
- Alabama Power customers receiving SSI or Medicaid for Low Income Families
Alabama Power Special Needs Assistance
Alabama Power
Statewide, AL
Due dates matched to benefit check dates, Braille or large-print bills, and services for deaf customers.
1-800-245-2244
- Who
- Alabama Power customers with special needs or on monthly government checks
Project SHARE
Salvation Army of Greater Birmingham
Statewide, AL
Emergency help with power bills for older and disabled Alabamians, funded by Alabama Power customers and electric co-ops.
(205) 328-2420
- Who
- Age 60+ or a person with a disability
Public Service Commission consumer complaints
Alabama Public Service Commission
Statewide, AL
Takes complaints about regulated power, gas, water and phone utilities after the customer has tried the utility.
1-800-392-8050
- Who
- Customers of PSC-regulated utilities
United Way 2-1-1
Anywhere
Free, 24/7 referral line. Finds the smaller church and community funds near their address that open up week to week. Also 1-888-421-1266, or text a ZIP code to 898-211.
2-1-1
- Who
- Anyone
Weatherization
Community Action of Etowah County
Statewide, AL
Free home energy upgrades like insulation and air sealing that lower bills going forward. The state line routes them to their county's agency.
256-546-9271
- Who
- Income at or under 200% of the federal poverty level
- Where
- 624 Broad St, Gadsden 35901
Other help in Etowah County