Winter is coming. And our volunteers are here to help.

Winter is coming and with it comes higher heating bills that may put a strain on everyone’s budget but especially for low-income seniors.

Sometimes financial assistance is available. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Community Services, provides financial assistance to low income renters or homeowners to help heat or cool their homes by making direct payments to their gas or electric utility companies. The details and name of this program can vary from state to state.

There are many ways that individuals can minimize energy use during the winter and one of those ways is to cover your windows to stop drafts.

Did you know that windows typically occupy about 15 to 20 percent of the surface area of the walls? Windows not only add aesthetic value to a home, but are also a very significant component of home heating and cooling costs. Windows lose more heat per square foot of area in winter and gain more heat in summer than any other surface in the home.

In older homes, where many of our clients live, drafty windows are a huge problem. But, we have a solution.

We use teams of volunteers to install a special window kit that seals out the drafts. The kits are easy to install and can be removed during the summer and reinstalled in the fall.

The effects are almost immediate. Some seniors have said their home feels warmer right away.

Our Weatherization Program is now underway. It’s a great volunteer opportunity for you and a small group of your friends or family.

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