Tiger Fuel has done more than supply Central Virginians with propane, oil and gasoline this summer.
On Thursday, the family-operated business wrapped up its fourth project of the summer with the Albemarle Home Improvement Program as part of a five-year partnership between the two Charlottesville-based organizations to improve the lives and living conditions of those in need.
“With shared company cultures and visions for helping the community, Tiger Fuel Company and AHIP have enjoyed partnering on projects for several years now,” said Tiger Fuel in a statement. “As the summer creates an offseason for drivers and service technicians, Tiger Fuel is able to support AHIP with providing assistance and resources for three projects over the course of the summer.”
This summer, Tiger Fuel’s drivers, service technicians and even some office workers rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty alongside Albemarle Home Improvement Program staff to replace and stain the back porch of a house in Crozet, install a ramp for a family in Earlysville and stain another deck that the Albemarle Home Improvement Program had previously constructed for a Charlottesville house.
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Tiger Fuel drivers work alongside Albemarle Home Improvement Program staff to install a ramp for a family in Earlysville.
In addition to investing time and manpower in the summer months, Tiger Fuel contributes $10,000 worth of labor, fuel and equipment annually to aid the Albemarle Home Improvement Program’s clientele with heating and other critical home projects.
Every year, the Albemarle Home Improvement Program assists roughly 150 homeowners, stepping in to repair failing systems, such as rusting water heaters and aging HVAC systems. The nonprofit group, which was officially incorporated in 1976, prioritizes serving the elderly as well as low-income families.
The program’s origins can be traced back to Project Scrub, an organized effort by a group of University of Virginia students to clean up and rebuild the surrounding community after Hurricane Camille devastated the region in 1969. In Virginia alone, the storm cost 124 people their lives and $116 million in damages.
A Tiger Fuel driver works on a home improvement project as part of the Charlottesville-based energy supplier’s partnership with the nonprofit Albemarle Home Improvement Program.
Five years later, Project Scrub eventually evolved into the Charlottesville Housing Improvement Program. An Albemarle County branch was then established to address needs in the surrounding county. The two organizations worked side by side for nearly two decades until the Charlottesville side shut down in 1995 and the Albemarle program expanded its services into the city.
The Albemarle Housing Improvement Program’s dedicated commitment to serving Central Virginia closely aligns with the values of the Tiger Fuel Company, according to Tiger Fuel spokeswoman Abby Campbell. The business also has a reputation of giving back to the community by supporting a number of charitable donations and partnerships, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge; WorkSource Enterprises, a local nonprofit group that assists individuals with vocational disabilities securing employment opportunities; as well as Jackfest and St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which focus on pediatric cancer research.
“These projects are a great way to work together and provide safe living for members of our community,” said Tiger Fuel in its statement.