BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Horror author Stephen King is stepping up to help struggling Maine residents buy heating oil.

The state is facing deep cuts to a federal heating oil assistance program.

The Maine native announced Tuesday that his foundation will work with the three radio stations he owns in the Bangor area to raise $140,000 to buy heating oil for low-income residents.

He’s asking listeners to donate $70,000, and the foundation will double it.

King tells the Bangor Daily News (http://bit.ly/tTJMtO) there is a “great need” for heating oil assistance as the price goes up and federal funding goes down.

The federal government told the Maine State Housing Authority that it should expect to receive $23 million in heating oil assistance this winter, down from $55.6 million last winter.