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 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.