diff --git a/bin/NotificationHelper.py b/bin/NotificationHelper.py
index 6d396a5d..3f123d4a 100755
--- a/bin/NotificationHelper.py
+++ b/bin/NotificationHelper.py
@@ -73,3 +73,29 @@ def sendEmailNotification(recipient, term):
             
         except Exception as e:
             print str(e)
+            # raise e
+    elif (
+            sender is not None and
+            sender_host is not None and
+            sender_port is not None
+        ):
+        try:
+
+            server = smtplib.SMTP(sender_host, sender_port)
+
+            mime_msg = MIMEMultipart()
+            mime_msg['From'] = sender
+            mime_msg['To'] = recipient
+            mime_msg['Subject'] = "AIL Term Alert"
+            
+            body = "New occurrence for term: " + term
+            mime_msg.attach(MIMEText(body, 'plain'))
+            
+            server.sendmail(sender, recipient, mime_msg.as_string())
+            server.quit()
+
+        except Exception as e:
+            print str(e)
+            # raise e
+
+
diff --git a/bin/packages/config.cfg.sample b/bin/packages/config.cfg.sample
index 5f409d96..8cb7a295 100644
--- a/bin/packages/config.cfg.sample
+++ b/bin/packages/config.cfg.sample
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ sentiment_lexicon_file = sentiment/vader_lexicon.zip/vader_lexicon/vader_lexicon
 sender = sender@example.com
 sender_host = smtp.example.com
 sender_port = 1337
-sender_pw = securepassword
+
+# optional for using with authenticated SMTP over SSL
+# sender_pw = securepassword
 
 ##### Flask #####
 [Flask]