Hamden, CT – Oil Heat Cares, a not-for-profit Foundation started by the National Association of Oil Heating Managers (NAOHSM) recently came to the assistance of St Martin de Porres Academy in Hamden. The Foundation assists needy persons and organizations with the replacement of their oil heating equipment. They raise funds to purchase heating equipment, and NAOHSM’s Chapters identify those within their neighborhoods that most need a temporary helping hand, and then install the equipment at no cost.

The school, in existence for only two years, needed a new furnace, oil tank and fuel for an outbuilding that is utilized as the administrative offices. The Oil Heat Cares project for St Martin de Porres Academy was facilitated by NAOHSM New Haven Chapter President Dan Gentile, of Wesson Energy in Waterbury, George McQueeney of East River Energy in Guilford, and George Perrelli of Perrelli & Sons Fuel Oil in East Haven. Mike Stevens, manager at Bell/Simon of New Haven provided the equipment at a reduced rate. Technician Ray Seward and apprentice Nate Terribile, both of East River Energy provided the installation.

St. Martin de Porres Academy is a Nativity Network middle school dedicated to providing faith-based tuition-free education for girls and boys from low income families in the Greater New Haven area. “Our goal is to prepare each student for a quality high school and college education,” said school president Jay Bowes. 50 children in grades 5 and 6 currently attend the school. There are 58 Nativity schools throughout the country and St Martin de Porres Academy is the only Nativity School in CT. The school features an 11-hour day including academic tutoring, extra-curricular, enrichment activities & athletics and three meals.