Attleboro Youth Turn on the HEAT for Local Families

The Attleboro Youth Commission, made up of students between the ages of 11 and 18, raised more than $3,000 to help provide heating assistance to local families through the Helping with Energy Assistance Together (HEAT) and Attleboro Energy Fund programs. 

Dozens of people showed support for the effort by participating in a silent auction held at the Attleboro Elks Lodge on South Main Street Friday evening. The auction included spending a day with Sen. Scott Brown in Washington, Providence Bruins tickets, gift cards to restaurants, golf balls and many more items. 

"You are keeping families with young children warm this winter and you should be proud of yourselves," said Irene Frechette of the Attleboro Energy Fund. 

The event, which raised nearly double the amount it did last year ($1,600) was held in memory of the late DeAnne Auclair, who was executive secretary to the mayor. Auclair started the HEAT program, now in its seventh year. 

"She would have been here and supporting this," her husband, Leo Auclair, said. "The HEAT program was important to her because it is a basic necessity that she thought everyone should have."

The Attleboro Youth Commission is currently assisted with mentoring by City Councilor Brian Kirby, who will step down in March. City Councilor Shannon Heagney has expressed plans to step in as mentor to the commission. 

Several of Attleboro Youth Commission members participated in the event, including Vice Chairman Tyler Chauncy, who played guitar, Jonathan Kirby (former chairman) who played keyboards and Jessie Mallon, who served drinks to supporters. 

Kirby, who has been involved in the program for four years, said it is was a big step for him to join becuse he knew he would be helping the city and would represent the city's youth. 

Kirby said he learned a lot from his father, Councilor Brian Kirby.

"He showed me how to do it and I just needed to put what he taught me into practice," he said of his father. 

The junior Kirby also credited Attleboro Director of Budget and Administration Barry Lacasse for his mentoring. 

"He showed us how a city works and how it is our responsibility to care of it," he said. 

Charlotte Kerwin, also a member of the commission, said she has made a lot of friends through the Attleboro Youth Commission and plans to help to recruit others to the program. 

Kerwin said the group will be meeting with the Attleboro High School Student Council to recruit new members to "help Attleboro and its people."

"It's not super serious," said Rachel Furlong, a ninth-grade student at Attleboro High School. "We get stuff done by having fun."