What is energy insecurity?
For many Southern families in the United States, winter brings more than a chill; it brings tough decisions. Energy insecurity (EI), a silent crisis affecting millions nationwide, often signifies an inability to meet heating, cooling, and energy needs. Low-income families, especially in rural areas, often face drafty homes and skyrocketing utility bills that outpace paychecks.
When the cold sets in, some must make heartbreaking “heat or eat” choices, spending what little they have on warmth or on food. In rural regions across Kentucky, West Virginia, and beyond, older homes and limited access to energy assistance leave families vulnerable to another bitter season.
The Impact of Cold Weather on Children
When temperatures drop, the challenge for our enrolled children extends far beyond just a “chilly morning”. By lacking warm coats, shoes, or clothing, some students must miss school entirely, not by choice, but out of necessity. Missing school deepens existing attendance struggles, especially for children already living in poverty.
Helping provide warm clothing isn’t just about comfort; it’s about keeping children in class, connected, and ready to learn. A warm jacket can mean the difference between isolation and opportunity.
Climate and Inequality: When Weather Hits Harder
Extreme weather magnifies long-standing disparities in high-poverty, Black, and Hispanic neighborhoods, which already face structural barriers. When harsh heat or cold hits, those barriers grow higher, affecting health, school performance, and family stability.
Southern cities like New Orleans may see fewer winter storms than northern states, but when cold snaps hit, they hit hard. Older homes aren’t built to retain heat, and families living on thin margins have few safety nets. Even though New Orleans is in the South and bouts of cold weather are limited, the need for warm clothing is still their greatest need and the area in which our sponsors help children the most.
In the deep rural areas of Appalachia, steep mountain roads become treacherous when ice or snow arrives. When communities are cut off, students lose access not only to school but to the nutritious meals they depend on there. When significant winter weather hits, it is not an easy task to make the roads passable again – which limits the resources available to already struggling families.
Across North Carolina, from urban Raleigh to rural mountain towns, energy insecurity creates a health and learning risk. Studies find that households that must allocate more than a large share of income toward utilities are far more exposed to extreme temperature swings and health risks.
In the inner-city neighborhoods where we work in Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia, winter brings a different kind of strain. Many families live in older buildings with inconsistent heat and rising utility costs. A stretch of freezing temperatures can mean crowded living spaces, missed school days, and parents forced to choose which bill to pay first. For children already navigating economic hardship, winter can interrupt learning, routine, and a sense of security.
How you can help
In times of hardship, whether from a cold snap, a family crisis, or ongoing energy insecurity, children need to know they are not alone. Through funds like Hope In Action and the Clothing Fund, our donors help provide warm coats, hats, gloves, emergency food, and other critical supplies when families need them most.
Working with trusted school partners and local volunteer coordinators who know their communities well, we quickly identify children who are struggling and respond with compassion and care. Your donations and sponsorship support helps them stay warm, stay in school, and stay focused on learning rather than survival.
Harsh winter conditions do not affect every family equally. Some can absorb the shock; others feel every degree of cold intensely. That is why your sponsorship and donations matter. When you give, you help a child stay warm, fed, and present in the classroom, and you invest in their future, building resilience and hope that last long after winter has passed.
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How do I sponsor a child with Children Incorporated?
You can sponsor a child in one of three ways:
- call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members;
- email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org; or
- go online to our sponsorship portal, create an account, and search for a child in that is available for sponsorship.
