The all-volunteer organization is celebrating 46 years of making heat and energy more accessible to low-income residents
By James Sloan, Rogue Valley Times
Musicians Jen Ambrose, Ríméad and Victoria Johnson and Friends will bring their acoustic music to Paschal Winery and Vineyard to celebrate the 46th anniversary of the Jackson County Fuel Committee, which keeps the Rogue Valley warm.
Entry to the JCFC Folk Music Festival is free and in addition to live music, people can also enjoy a hostess bar and delicious snacks from local restaurants.
The festival will take place on Saturday, August 31st, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Paschal Winery, 1122 Suncrest Road, Talent.
“The Folk Music Festival brings together the hundreds of people who make our work possible year-round, from the individuals who donate wood to our woodlot to the volunteers who learn how to advocate for JCFC beneficiaries to keep their power on,” said Forest Gough, operations manager for the Jackson County Fuel Committee. “It’s a celebration and a very encouraging one for those of us who are involved in the work year-round.”
The Fuel Committee, an entirely voluntary membership association, is committed to making heat and energy accessible to low-income residents.
“For 46 years, JCFC has been fighting to end the lack of access to heating and energy resources for thousands of low-income households and families in the region, despite the abundance of these resources,” said Gough. “We are organizing to end a situation where more and more people cannot afford energy and heating while the utility companies make huge profits, and to stop the further destruction of our planet.”
“JCFC programs save lives,” he added.
The Fuel Committee administers numerous charitable programs such as free firewood, utility advocacy, weather protection, heating and cooling equipment distribution, and more to care for the residents of Jackson County.
The group also opposes policies that increase poverty or undermine the need for basic necessities such as air conditioning or heating.
“In 2017, we got the Oregon Public Utility Commission to impose a severe weather moratorium that prevents private utilities across the state from shutting off power during heat warnings or turning off gas or electric heat when the daily high temperature is below freezing,” Gough said.
Given the working-class roots of folk music, the connection between the music and the efforts of the Fuel Committee is seamless.
“Music seems to inspire community and bring people together and share. Throughout my performing experience, I’ve been fortunate to be able to use my music as a voice for the greater good,” said Jen Ambrose, one of the Folk Music Festival’s artists. “It inspires me to be able to use my music in this way.”
Ambrose’s music is an enticing mix of Americana, blues, jazz and country, and the artist will appear alongside longtime collaborator Jon Galfano during her performance at the festival.
What she’s most excited about is, “It’s definitely a mix of everything, but it’s the idea that this can have a wider reach and raise more public awareness,” Ambrose said. “It’s a great time to come together now and help make the world a better place for all of us.”
This year’s festival is hosted by Paschal Winery for the second time and offers panoramic views of the Rogue Valley and surrounding mountains.
“Some of our volunteers and supporters recommended Paschal, and when we visited the venue we knew we had found it,” Gough said. “The owners, Rory Calhoun and Aga Stachurska Paschal, are great supporters of the fuel committee who want to see this community thrive.”
To learn more about the Fuel Committee, to volunteer, or for more information about the Folk Music Festival, call 541-488-2905 or visit fuelcommittee.org.
To listen to Ambrose’s music, visit jenambrose.org.
Reach reporter James Sloan at [email protected]This story first appeared in the Rogue Valley Times.
