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A Part of America's Poverty-Fighting Network

Tri County Community Action has been helping people and changing lives throughout Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry Counties for over 50 years. Offering a comprehensive approach to individual, family, and neighborhood success, Tri County Community Action provides a myriad of programming and initiatives around early childhood and family development; employment, education and financial empowerment; housing security; and community development - all to create strong families and thriving communities.

Tri County Community Action’s Promise is to care about the entire community and acknowledges that even today, structural inequities leave some behind. Tri County Community Action believes that lifting diversity, equity, and inclusion and standing against hate is core to combating those structural inequities, making all communities a better place to live.

  • Helping People, Changing Lives - it is what we do, and here's how we do it.

  • Read more about some of the lives that have been changed.

  • Invest in our community here!

  • PAT Program Participant
    PAT Program Participant

    I enjoy the [PAT] program because I get to connect with the people who work at Tri County Community Action and other parents.

Our Impact This Year

Everything we do is aimed at disrupting and permanently breaking the cycle of poverty for everyone living in our community. 

Did you know that right now, 51,419 of your neighbors, friends, co-workers, and family members are economically insecure? 

Last year, 38% of the people we helped were working and providing the sole source of income for their households - 63% were women, and 51% of households had children in the home. These were and are hard-working, caring, and productive members of our community - they are YOU - and we helped 17,624 of you stabilize, sustain, and take steps toward economic independence. 

November 2, 2023

Tri County Community Action Launches Winter Heating Support for Low-Income Families

(Harrisburg, PA) – Tri County Community Action, in collaboration with Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and representatives of the Pennsylvania Utilities Commission, convened on Wednesday to kickstart the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) season.


LIHEAP, overseen by DHS, is a federally funded initiative offering direct grants to heating providers for low-income households. Grants range from a minimum grant of $300 to a maximum of $1000. Additionally, crisis grants are available for those facing service termination or possessing less than two weeks’ worth of deliverable fuel, such as fuel oil, propane, coal, or wood.


In tandem with LIHEAP, Tri County Community Action administers the Senior Heating Assistance program on behalf of Cumberland County Aging and Community Services. This program extends beyond LIHEAP’s income limits. Single older adults may have a household income of up to $2,925, while couples can have an income up to $3,325 per month. Eligibility is exclusive to older adults residing in Cumberland County, and recipients cannot be on the Community Health Choices Waiver program.


CEO of Tri County Community Action, Jen Wintermyer, emphasized, “We understand that many individuals in our region will face challenges in meeting their heating expenses. In addition to LIHEAP and the Senior Heating Program, we’ve partnered with First Commonwealth Bank’s Share the Warmth campaign.” Through Share the Warmth, First Commonwealth will match donations, dollar-for-dollar, up to cumulative total of $100,000, contributed to Tri County Community Action.


Elizabeth Saraceno, AVP and Community Engagement Manager at First Commonwealth Bank, expressed gratitude for the vital work carried out by community action agencies. She stated, “We know our neighbors continue to face financial challenges. Please join us in supporting them. Together, we can make a difference.”
Residents of Pennsylvanian can apply for LIHEAP and other public assistance programs online at www.compass.state.pa.us or by phone at 1-866-550-4355.


To apply for the Senior Heating Assistance program, which serves older adults living in Cumberland County, individuals can reach out to Tri County Community Action at 717-232-9757, extension 203.


Wintermyer urged, “We understand that budgets may be tight this year, but even modest contributions can have a substantial impact, especially in November when donations can be matched. I encourage everyone to donate if they are able, as it could mean the difference between keeping a family warm and secure, or facing homelessness, or worse, this winter.” Donations can be made securely only through either through either First Commonwealth’s website at www.fcbanking.com/timetogive or Tri County’s website at www.cactricounty.org/sharewarmth.html.

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