BOWLING GREEN, Mo. – Customers at Hardee’s restaurants in the area can help their neighbors in need on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.
NECAC is teaming up with the restaurants and Heat Up St. Louis for the 20th annual Rise & Shine fund-raiser.

From 6 to 10:30 a.m., customers will be able to buy sausage or egg biscuits for just $1. NECAC staff and volunteers will also collect additional donations. Hardee's in Bowling Green, Louisiana, and Troy are among participating locations.

Proceeds will stay in the counties in which the restaurants are located to help elderly, disabled and low-income people pay utility costs. Heat Up St. Louis organizes the event, which raises money to fund heating and utility assistance programs administered by agencies in 34 Missouri and Illinois counties.

“The Hardee’s Rise & Shine event is crucial in every county to assist our low-income neighbors with their winter heating bills,” said NECAC County Services Programs Director Linda Fritz. “Not only will Hardee’s customers be receiving a great bargain, but that dollar will help someone with their heating bill. It’s a win-win situation. We greatly appreciate everyone’s participation with this worthy endeavor.”

Last year’s Rise & Shine raised a record $570,000 at 55 Hardee’s locations in Missouri and Illinois. NECAC received $21,500 in funding for four counties – Lincoln ($6,500), Pike ($5,000), St. Charles ($5,000) and Warren ($5,000). Volunteers are needed and more information is available by logging on to www.heatupstlouis.org.

NECAC also contracts with federal and state funding sources to provide assistance for paying utility bills through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP). Applications are available from NECAC Service Centers.