WLNE Launches Operation: Warm Home

As a dangerous arctic wave settles over New England, Global Broadcasting’s ABC affiliate WLNE Providence, R.I. (DMA 53) and Petro Oil are combining resources to come to the aid of Southern New Englanders who are unable to heat their homes. Prompted by e-mails and calls from viewers looking for help, the station launched Operation: Warm Home, a program that helps people and companies donate unused home heating oil to people who urgently need it.

“Forecasts are for low temperatures between 5 and 10 below zero,” said Steve Doerr, VP-GM of WLNE. “People need help and they need it now. Operation: Warm Home, is our program to get them enough oil to get through the next few days.”

In recent days, WLNE has been sharing stories of families from throughout Southern New England who cannot afford to heat their homes in a battered economy. These stories have resonated with viewers, the stations says. “We have received a tremendous response to these stories, and people want to get involved,” Doerr said. “Of course, Petro Oil makes the whole thing possible. Operation: Warm Home can only happen with the resources of a community-oriented home heating oil company, and Petro really stepped up.”

 “Sometimes you need to go beyond informing viewers and take an active role in making their lives better,” Dan Fabrizio, WLNE news director said. “For instance, there’s a single mom of twin boys in Johnston who was trying to heat her apartment with her stove.  Now she has heating oil and a warm apartment on the coldest weekend in six years.”