NATCHEZ &045; If you need help paying those cooling bills, the time to call the AJFC Community Action Agency is now.

&uot;We already have a long waiting list,&uot; agency CEO Lamar Braxton said.

With that in mind, agency representatives said, those in need of help need to call the AJFC office as soon as possible.

&uot;They’ll need to ask to speak to a case worker in order to establish eligibility&uot; for the program, which pays for one month’s bill and is based on the amount of the person’s current bill, Braxton said.

&uot;They’ll have to set up an appointment for the person to come in.&uot;

But there is money available.

As of Wednesday, the agency had $250,000 left in its energy assistance program for the year for the seven counties it serves: Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Claiborne, Lawrence, Lincoln and Copiah.

Of that amount, $75,000 is left for Adams County alone, Administrative Assistant Barbara Stewart said.

The agency also uses that money, which comes from the federal government, to provide heating bill assistance for the needy in the winter.

To be included on AJFC’s waiting list and find out what documentation you will need, call the agency at 601-442-8681.