LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (May 4, 2022) – Summit Utilities Arkansas (Summit) has committed to supporting the mission of the St. Francis House with a $5,000 donation for central Arkansans who qualify for utility payment assistance.

As a community-oriented company, Summit strives to be a good community partner and neighbor. Summit’s steadfast commitment to safety for the communities we serve makes the contribution to the St. Francis House ideal.

“Summit is honored to be a part of the St. Francis House mission to provide a means of addressing the diverse, critical needs of the underserved in our community,” said Cindy Westcott, Vice President of Operations at Summit. “We’re always ready to do our part to help the communities we serve, especially at a time when central Arkansans need it most.”

The St. Francis House provides a variety of services to the community, including veteran services programs. Its social services program serves individuals and families with immediate needs, including food, clothing, medication co-pays, and utility assistance. St. Francis House clients, especially those not eligible for assistance from other agencies, qualify for assistance through need. Call 501-664-5036 or visit http://www.stfrancishouselr.org for more information.

Summit urges customers struggling to pay their bills to call their customer service department as soon as possible to learn more about payment assistance options including payment plans, energy efficiency rebates, and information about heating assistance programs offered by the state and municipality. Customers should call 800-992-7552 or visit https://www.summitutilities.com/PaymentAssistance for more information.

The St. Francis House is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in January 1970 as a social outreach of the Episcopal Church to the State of Arkansas. It originated, in part, as a continuation of the ministry of St. Phillip’s Church, an Episcopal mission in Little Rock that was comprised of black worshippers over its 86-year existence. Its building and property were sold as part of the urban renewal project which became Interstate-630. The early program was one of outreach to the neighborhood which included informal personal counseling, small group study, social fellowship, and recreation. Its goal was to serve as a “bridge” between the black and white communities caused by the tension of school and neighborhood segregation.

It quickly became apparent the work of St. Francis House would become overwhelmingly that of striving to meet the pressing material needs of people in need, therefore, it dedicated itself to responding quickly to the needs of those who seek help, especially giving aid to those who are not eligible for assistance from other agencies. The current emphasis of the social work department is to provide immediate material assistance (food, medicine, shelter, clothing, utility and rent payments, transportation, and other such basic needs) to clients in crisis situations. In 1988, St. Francis House was granted a contract with the US Department of Veterans Affairs to house homeless veterans. The program provides a setting for homeless veterans, including the services of counseling, transitional housing, meals, laundry, employment services, and activities. In 2000, a health clinic was opened in partnership with St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center to provide health care needs of St. Francis House’s clients.

Summit closed its acquisition of CenterPoint Energy’s distribution assets in Arkansas, Oklahoma and the Texarkana, Texas area on January 10, 2022. The gas distribution systems included in the transaction serve approximately 525,000 customers in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, and include 17,000 miles of gas main pipeline across those three states. As part of the acquisition, Summit has welcomed nearly 600 CenterPoint team members to the company.

Throughout 2022, Summit and CenterPoint will work together to migrate all operations and services to Summit. During that transition period, CenterPoint will continue to provide certain services to customers on behalf of Summit including aspects of billing, customer support and marketing.

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Summit Utilities, Inc. owns natural gas distribution and transmission subsidiaries that operate in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. The company provides safe, clean and affordable natural gas to businesses and residents in six states through Arkansas Oklahoma Gas, Colorado Natural Gas, Summit Natural Gas of Maine, Summit Natural Gas of Missouri, Summit Utilities Arkansas, and Summit Utilities Oklahoma. Each of Summit’s natural gas distribution and transmission subsidiaries constructs and installs natural gas distribution systems with the goal of supporting economic development by providing clean-burning, safe and reliable natural gas to residential and commercial customers through exceptional customer service and commitment to community. Overall, Summit entities serve approximately 625,000 customers and operate more than 23,400 miles of pipeline.