DIXFIELD, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- An article in the New York Times about a small town oil company in Maine has caught the attention of people across the country and captured their hearts.
Since the article appeared on the Times front page Saturday the owner of Hometown Energy in Dixfield has been fielding calls and opening cards and letters from people across America.
It all started when Ike Libby agreed to an interview with a reporter from the New York Times who was doing a story on people struggling to heat their homes. He recalled a couple he had delivered oil to a few times, even though they couldn't pay the bill. He couldn't say no to them, but eventually he had to think of his own business .
"We've struggled as a business and my partner has been, gotta lose that heart or you're gonna lose the business", Libby said.
The story and an outpouring of support for Libby and the needy couple spread like wildfire across the country. Today was anything but a typical Monday for Libby. In fact, it's a day that he will never forget. Instead of making oil deliveries he sat in his office overcome with emotion as he opened a stack of cards and letters from complete strangers.
He read from one of the letters, "Donation to Hometown Energy, good luck, thanks for caring.... it's a check for $5,000".
Five thoudand dollars there, another $1,500 in another envelope, credit card pledges over the phone. It's all adding up in a big way. Ike Libby figures he's got more than $100,000 in donations that he will use to set up a trust fund to help people heat their homes this Winter and hopefully for many more to come.
NEWS CENTER