Musicians lend a hand to help keep the heat on.

Byline: Lewis Taylor The Register-Guard

Lynda Duffy knows there are a lot of worthy causes out there. But when it comes to people in need, one group inspires her deepest sympathies.

"The children speak loud and clear to me," Duffy said. "Children in the world don't have enough representation."

Six months ago, Duffy, a local jingle producer, read a newspaper story about a Lane County family that could no longer afford to pay utilities. So disturbed was she by the thought of children living in the dark that she took it upon herself to start a local organization and put together a musical fund-raiser.

Heat Up Eugene/Springfield, or HUES, is the group she founded, and Blues for HUES, an all-star blues blowout that will take place today at the Eugene Hilton, is the benefit concert she put together. The lineup of talent includes Curtis Salgado, Paul deLay Blues Band, Deb Cleveland, Paul Biondi, Linda Hornbuckle, Norma Fraser and Barbara Healy.

Duffy plans to make the concert an annual event.

"I saw this front page (newspaper story), and I saw their lights out in the picture. I saw the kids in the background, and something drew my attention and made me say `Uh oh. There's a problem here,' ' Duffy said.

"This is local. It's not Africa, it's not Oklahoma City. It's right here."

Duffy, a musician who has written jingles for Rainbow Optics and VE Tire and Auto Center, has organized several Lane County fund-raisers.

She organized a benefit show for the Salvation Army aid efforts in Ethiopia and helped raise money for the American Red Cross's Oklahoma City relief fund.

If she has learned anything from her previous charity experiences, it is not to take `no' for an answer.

"A lot of companies are saying they don't have any money - understandably in this economy - but I'll tell you what, a little goes a long way," Duffy said. "The next step after not being able to pay your utilities usually is you've lost your home.

`The purpose is giving people comfort in the home, but also giving people hope, especially the children - giving them hope that things are going to be OK."

Public assistance options exist for county residents who are unable to pay their utility bills, among them the Lane County Human Services Commission's Low Income Energy Assistance Program, EWEB's Energy Share and the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County's Wipe Out program. But the programs do not go far enough, Duffy said.

The LIEAP program currently has a waiting list of more than 5,000 people, according to the Human Services Com- mission.

HUES has chosen St. Vincent de Paul to administer the money raised through tonight's concert and silent auction.

Unlike other energy assistance programs that only pay for electricity, the money raised by HUES also will go to help pay for water, sewer fees, gas, oil, wood and bad credit or missed payment deposits.

The organization has drawn support from from a variety of community groups, including the Eugene Water & Electric Board, FOOD for Lane County, Eugene Mayor Jim Torrey, Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken and Lane County Commissioner Peter Sorenson.

Sorenson, who is charged with making many of the social services funding decisions after the failure of Measure 28, said the waiting list for utility assistance is expected to grow longer.

"The Oregon Legislature is currently meeting right now, and the fiscal situation is worsening each time they meet," Sorenson said. "We often hear that every one wants to do something about those things.

`This is an example. This is a way for people to help out."

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Linda Hornbuckle will heat up the Eugene Hilton tonight.