City responds to rising costs

BOSTON. The city is planning several events geared toward helping residents with rising food and fuel costs, including a community summit next month.

On Sept. 27, a food and fuel summit will be held at Madison Park High School in Roxbury, where residents can get demonstrations on weatherizing homes and tips on keeping a tighter budget.

The city will also host several community “pot luck-style” dinners, look to expand enrollment of the food stamp program, and boost programs that provide fuel assistance to families. National Grid will boost funding by $200,000 to its HeatWorks program and increase the eligible families to those with children six and younger.  

“The rising costs of energy and fuel are hitting the wallet of every Bostonian, and this winter will be a particular challenge for many of us,” Mayor Thomas Menino said in a statement. “No one wants to be hungry or left out in the cold.