Sumter city water assistance program supports residents in need through Sumter United Ministries

Did you know the City of Sumter and Sumter United Ministries partnered to assist residents to pay their monthly water bill?

In 2012, a customer, a disabled person who lived alone, repeatedly came into the City of Sumter Utility Finance Department to pay his water bill.

According to the city, he received a support check each month but it was always after his water bill was due, making it difficult to pay on time. He realized that if he could get ahead for one month, he'd have the money to pay on time from then on.

And the city decided to step in and help. Several city employees raised the money to help pay his bill for one month in an effort to get on track with timely payments.

Knowing there were other stories similar to this in the community, the city established the Water Assistance Program, partnering with Sumter United Ministries to develop and launch the program.

The Water Assistance Program allows the city to accept donations from existing utility customers through their choice of donation on their monthly water bill. The money that is donated by customers is placed into a designated fund and then sent to Sumter United Ministries to be disbursed to selected families that have been screened and counseled by their staff.

By the end of 2015, donations totaled $5,400, according to the city. The money helped assist approximately 50 families in Sumter. In the first two years, 418 customers enrolled in the program to donate, and the list continues to grow.

"The City's partnership with United Ministries provides a consistent, long-term solution that builds on both of our successes," according to the city's website. "The City's goal is not just to pay bills, but to stand side by side with its residents and support them during their most difficult times with dignity and pride."

The current program is designed to assist customers with short-term assistance and offers to approved applicants a one-time payment. The city is also open to additional ways to assist residents.

Tax-deductible donations are accepted in three ways:

- Customers can make a one-time donation of any amount they choose by adding on to their monthly water bill payment.

- Customers can select an auto-roundup feature on their monthly bills where they can choose to round up their payment to the nearest dollar each month.

- Customers can decide to add a simple recurring dollar amount to their monthly bill. By downloading and completing the online donation form, you can choose to add a specific dollar amount to your monthly bill.

Those interested in contributing simply check a box on their monthly bill. For questions and more information, contact City of Sumter Utility Finance Office at (803) 436-2541.