To give to Plus-1
or simply download the Plus-1 application below and fill it out. Please make your check or money order payable to Plus-1 and mail to:
Customer Accounts and Records
Memphis Light, Gas and Water
P.O. Box 430
Memphis, TN 38101-9791
*MIFA is a non-profit corporation under § 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to MIFA are tax deductible to the extent the law allows.
Click
here to download the Plus-1 application.
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MIFA's Emergency Services Offers Relief to Families in Crisis
by Ellen Whitten, MIFA public relations specialist
After working for the same employer for10 years, Kathryn lost her job in October 2007.
"So many people have been dependent on me for so long, and when all of a sudden the resources weren't there, I felt like I was letting everyone down," she says. "You imagine what it will be like for your family to not have utilities, and you get down on your knees a lot and ask God to help you." Kathryn's time of need led her to MIFA (Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association), where she received assistance through the Plus-1 program.
The Plus-1 Program is a partnership between MIFA and MLGW that provides utilities assistance for families in financial crisis. MLGW customers are asked to add $1 or more to the cost of their utilities each month, and these donations are reserved for eligible clients of Plus-1. When a client receives assistance through Plus-1, these funds are used to pay a portion of the client's MLGW bill, while a manageable payment plan is constructed for the remaining balance.
For Plus-1 eligibility, a client must be able to document the financial crisis that kept him or her from paying the MLGW bill. Clients must not have received MIFA assistance for two years, and those who have been affected by a crisis within 90 days are given preference. MIFA operates several programs to stabilize and transform families in crisis, including Emergency Services and the Housing Opportunities programs.
Kathryn adds that it takes a lot of humility to ask for help, but the folks at MIFA never judged her for it. She says, "I want to let people know that when you come to MIFA, the moment you walk in the door, the receptionist has a smile on her face, and you realize there is no judgment. Everyone just smiles at you and treats you with respect."
Kathryn says she plans to give to Plus-1 when she is financially stable again, and she encourages others to give to this program. She says, "If we can't spare one, two, or five dollars, someday we'll get to a point where no one has any help at all. I will absolutely donate to Plus-1."
 
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