SHORELINE, Wash. -- During the economic downturn, the number of people asking for help to keep their heat source running has nearly doubled because they can no longer afford to pay for heat.

Many working families are facing the choice of paying for heat or paying for groceries.

Rochelle Chilfone is a single mother who cannot pay the $850 winter heating bill she received. Chilfone has Multiple Sclerosis and had recent open-heart surgery but is able to earn money typing at home as a medical transcriptionist.

Chilfone said she relies on an organization in King County that provides energy assistance.

That organization is Hopelink, where the amount of people asking for heat and energy assistance has risen 194 percent since last year and is up 506 percent from 2007.

One of the people who sees the growing need for heating help is John Veeder. Veeder recycles old heating oil from rusting tanks after he digs them up and then fills the tanks for people in need for free.

This winter, Veeder said he's finding more people than ever who are desperate for the fuel.

"It's sad. When you get (to their homes) they're wearing stocking caps and are bundled up in a jacket," said Veeder.

Veeder said there are so many families needing heating help that he can't keep up with the demand and believes the economy is forcing a lot of people to live with no heat at all.

"It's the perfect storm for what we're doing with this oil. We're in a time when people just don't have the funds," said Veeder.