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Our Community
How to get help
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Heating oil prices are high, gas prices fluctuate day to day (there is some good news with falling prices, even though they remain at historic highs), and the prices of food and other necessities are rising in concert. By some estimates, the cost of fuel has risen 375 percent since 2002-03. It’s becoming clear that many families will just not have the resources this winter to keep warm and fed. With that in mind, Penobscot Bay Press has created “Winter Warming: Information and Help” as a community service to act as a clearinghouse for resources in our area, both for those who need help and for those who are able to give help.
The list will be published from time to time and will also have a page on our Web site at www.penobscotbaypress.com. Click on Community News, then on Captain’s Quarters for “Winter Warming: Information and how to get and give help.” We will update it as we receive information from our area communities and organizations.
To make this resource as complete as possible, Penobscot Bay Press needs your help. Do you know of a resource that should be on the list? Should any of the information here be updated? Call 367-2200 or e-mail new information and updates to cis@penobscotbaypress.com with “Winter Warming” in the subject line. Please include contact information in case we have questions.
General Assistance Town of Blue Hill, 374-2281. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, 1-3 p.m. Contact Ann Stadden or Etta Perkins.
Town of Brooklin, 359-8394. Tuesday and Thursday, 2-5 p.m.
Town of Brooksville, 326-4518. Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, 6-8 p.m. Call or stop by the town office for an application. Selectmen review completed applications.
Town of Castine, 326-4502. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Contact Town Manager Dale Abernethy.
Town of Deer Isle, 348-2324. Monday-Friday, 12-4 p.m. Contact First Selectman Neville Hardy.
Town of Isle au Haut, 335-5001. Contact First Selectman Belvia MacDonald at 335-2201.
Town of Penobscot, 326-4364. Monday and Thursday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-5 p.m. Tuesday, 4-8 p.m. Call the town office during business hours and leave a message for the selectmen.
Town of Sedgwick, 359-2275. Contact Selectman Bill Jagger during selectmen’s meetings, and Tuesday, 3:30-5 p.m. Thursday, 6:30-8 p.m.
Town of Stonington, 367-2351. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Contact Town Manager Kathleen Billings-Pezaris.
Town of Surry, 667-5912. Monday and Wednesday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, 12-7 p.m. Contact Selectman Steve Bemiss.
Heating/Fuel
Island Heating Assistance Program, a community fund administered by the First Congregational Church of Deer Isle, UCC, 348-6602. Funded by donations; provides fuel oil, kerosene, propane, firewood from area dealers; prevents electricity service disconnections by Bangor Hydro. Also networks with other organizations. Deer Isle and Stonington residents only. To inquire about services, call 348-6602.
Keep ME Warm Fund, a statewide partnership to help people stay safe, warm and secure this winter through public and private contributions, volunteerism and advocacy, primarily for those who may not be eligible for limited federal, state or local fuel assistance programs. Call 211 if you need heating assistance. First Baptist Church of Blue Hill Deacons’ Fund, available for emergency aid to Peninsula residents regardless of church affiliation. Steve and Sheila Heneise, 374-5907.
St. Francis-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church Rector’s Discretionary Fund, available for emergency aid to Peninsula residents regardless of church affiliation. Claudia Smith, 374-5200.
First Congregational Church of Blue Hill Dolly Fisher Fund, available for emergency aid to Peninsula residents regardless of church affiliation. Rob McCall, 374-2892.
Town of Surry heating fund, to be approved by voters in late October. Information: 667-5912.
Brooklin Friends for a Warmer Town. The town now has a fund, currently at $12,000, and a committee is working on guidelines for the selectmen’s approval. Once in place, one of the selectmen will be appointed to oversee the program. For more information or to donate, call the town office at 359-8394.
LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance) is a federally funded program to help low-income households pay their home energy bills. The program offers fuel assistance benefits, energy crisis assistance, help with electric bills, and weatherization and other energy-related home repairs. Qualification for LIHEAP also qualifies the applicant for other assistance programs. Congress has increased eligibility limits, and more families will now qualify for funding. In addition, more funds have been appropriated. Administered by the Washington Hancock Community Agency, which is adding three more full-time employees to help process applications. To apply, call 800-828-7544, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Town of Stonington Heating Fund, coordinated by town’s general assistance administrator, 367-2351. Funded by donations and fund-raising events. Eligible families (those who do not qualify for LIHEAP or other assistance programs) can receive 100 gallons of fuel, propane or firewood as funds allow. To apply, call the town office.
In the works: Island Community Center, Stonington. The center is seeking funding for expanded daytime hours and extra help so people can turn down their thermostats at home and come to a warm place for camaraderie and activities, such as Bingo and a knitting club. For more information, call Executive Director Pat Gross at 367-2735.
Food Banks; Meals for Me
Hunters for the Hungry, a cooperative program between the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the state’s Emergency Food Assistance Program. Provides a way for hunters to donate all or a portion of their hunt to a local food pantry. Info: 888-4DEER-ME.
Island Pantry, lower level of Island Community Center, Memorial Lane, Stonington, 348-6181. For low income or those out of work. On Thursdays, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., come to the community center to pick up food.
Tree of Life Food Pantry, 23 South Street, Blue Hill, 374-2900. On Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., come to the pantry to pick up food.
Surry Loaves and Fishes II, basement of the Surry United Methodist Church, 1279 Main Street, 667-9689. Call ahead to request food; pick up third Saturday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Call any time for emergency pick-up. No financial restrictions; no questions asked. Open to any resident of Surry.
Meals for Me, midday meals for people age 60 and older in community dining rooms or through home delivery to those who qualify. Reservations required; see list below for the meal in your area. The program receives some government funding but not enough to cover the full cost of the meal. Participants are encouraged to contribute part or all of the $6 it costs to prepare and serve each meal. Please call to make reservations; contact numbers are shown with each site below.
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Blue Hill, Baptist Church. Meals served Wednesday and Friday at noon. Reservations: 374-5592, 326-4580 or 469-2230 before 9:30 a.m. the day of the meal.
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Brooksville, Town House. Meals served Thursday at noon. Reservations: 326-4912 before 8 a.m. Wednesday.
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Deer Isle, Deer Run. Meals served Monday through Friday at noon. Reservations: 348-6879 by 11 a.m. the day before the meal.
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Penobscot, United Methodist Church. Meal served Monday at noon. Reservations: 326-8721 before 9 a.m. on Monday.
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Sedgwick, Ben’s Pantry. Meals served Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. Reservations: 359-2716 before 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Clothing
Queen’s Closet, better clothing for children to adults, ranging from church wear to prom clothes to job interview ensembles. Available on request. Donations welcome. Call Cathy Boyce, Stonington, 367-5061.
Community Clothes Closet, 58 South Burnt Cove Road, Stonington, 367-2271. Free clothing, household goods, furniture; also free lending service of handicapped aids. Tuesday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; Thursday, 6-8 p.m. or by appointment.
Second Edition, Route 15, Sedgwick, next to Eggemoggin Country Store, 359-5514. Clothes and shoes for infants, children, men and women. Consignments welcome. Will help people in dire need. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Turnstyle, 23 South Street, Blue Hill, 374-2900. Gently used clothing for all ages, linens, accessories. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free or minimal cost clothing may be obtained with letter from a church or appropriate agency. Donation of goods accepted during business hours or in drop-off boxes on site.
Village Boutique, Enterprise Lane, just off Main Street in Surry village, 667-8454. Women’s and children’s used clothing; some household linens. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Goodwill Industries, 805 Stillwater Avenue, Bangor, 947-7984. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Health and Medical Needs
Adopt a family through Blue Hill Memorial Hospital to help with medical expenses and prescription medicines. Information: Ann Dickens, 374-3492.
Bagaduce Area Health Resources, 102 Court Street, Castine, 326-8005. For residents of Castine and Penobscot, transportation to medical appointments and delivery of prescriptions for those unable to drive; loaner program for durable medical equipment. Office hours, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Stonington Church of the Nazarene, 58 South Burnt Cove Road, Stonington, 367-2271. Free lending service of handicapped aids, such as crutches, wheelchairs, walkers and more. Call for information or visit during Community Clothes Closet hours: Wednesday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8 p.m.
Neighborcare, volunteers offering free health-related assistance to neighbors in need in all area towns. If you need transportation from Deer Isle/Stonington, call Anne Williams at 367-5823. Those in other area towns should call Maggie Davis at 266-7673. More information: http://heartsongbooks.com/neighbor.html.
Eastern Area Agency on Aging: Medicare Prescription Drug and Health Insurance Assistance, for seniors; help provided by community services consultants. For information, call 800-432-7812 or visit www.eaaa.org.
Home Repair and Winterizing
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development grant if over age 62 and qualify, or loans at 1 percent interest up to $20,000 if eligible (also first-time home buyers, no down payment needed if qualified). Call 800-352-8963, ext. 161, or e-mail rdhelps@me.usda.gov. Give your name, phone number and the county you live in.
Ride Share/Car Pool
As an alternative to the high cost of gas, Penobscot Bay Press now offers free classified listings for people who are looking for ride shares/car pool opportunities or are interested in offering rides to other people in the community. Listings should be 20 words or less; deadline is 1 p.m. Tuesday. For more information, call Classified Advertising Manager Darcy Grindal at 367-2200.
211 Maine Resource Directory
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, you can call 2-1-1 for referral information to more than 5,000 health and human service resources throughout the state. Resources range from counseling to childcare, elder care to emergency preparedness. The information is also available at www.211maine.org.
Electric Energy Saving
“Stay Safe and Warm” from the Office of the Governor, providing energy saving tips, brochures, news and links to assistance. www.maine.gov/governor/baldacci/contact/citizen_services/safeandwarm.html.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension energy saving tips at www.umext.maine.edu/energy/default.htm. Winterization kits available soon.
For homeowners: Efficiency Maine has developed a program that links homeowners with local certified professionals trained to do home performance evaluations that will determine the best use of a home’s energy resources. Costs for this service are paid by the homeowner and vary by provider. Once an energy audit is completed and recommendations made, access to low-interest financing is often available to fund the specific recommendations. For more information, visit www.mainehomeperformance.org or call 800-695-1484.
For businesses: Small businesses, with fewer than 50 employees and annual revenues under $5 million, can receive a free energy audit with a professional who will spend time going over energy bills and walking through a facility. The professional will develop a written analysis of his findings with recommendations for energy savings. Also included in the package of information from Efficiency Maine will be a financial package for achieving the energy savings. Efficiency Maine offers a number of cash incentives as well as a low-interest loan (currently 3 percent) for work done as a result of its audit. For an application, additional details and qualifications, call 800-376-2463 or visit www.efficiencymaine.com/business_programs.htm.
Energy Conservation Tips
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Replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps will save more than 30 percent of energy costs. Using a dimmer switch can also reduce costs by 7 to 10 percent.
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Turning down the thermostat by one degree can save 25 to 30 gallons of fuel per year. Turn down your thermostat to 55 degrees when the house is unoccupied. When at home during the day, setting your thermostat to 68 degrees is a comfortable maximum temperature. At night, when you are sleeping, around 60 degrees should be comfortable.
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Keep light bulbs and fixtures clean. Dirt will absorb the light and reduce efficiency.
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Reduce the “phantom load.” Many appliances—such as TVs, VCRs, stereos and kitchen equipment—can use up to 75 percent of their power even when turned off. If a small colored light remains on when the power is turned off, it is a sure sign the appliance is continuing to drain power (and money from your wallet).
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Installing energy-saving showerheads, repairing leaky faucets and turning the hot water heater down just a few degrees (but not below 120 degrees) will add up in savings.
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When cooking, use the smallest pan necessary and match the pan to the element size—a 6-inch pan on an 8-inch burner wastes over 40 percent of the heat produced by the burner.
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Don’t preheat your oven and avoid “peeking,” as each peek can lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees.
—From Efficiency Maine, a program of the Maine Public Utilities Commission. For more Energy Conservation Tips, visit www.efficiencymaine.com.
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Our Community
How to give help
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Many of the area organizations that provide help, food, heat and more, welcome donations of money, goods or time. Most area churches also have discretionary funds to help those in need; some are listed here and we welcome information about others.
The following list shows how you can help in some areas. More information on these and other opportunities to help should be e-mailed to cis@penobscotbaypress.com with “Winter Warming” in the subject line; please include your contact information in case we have questions.
The list is also available at www.penobscotbaypress.com. Click on Community News, then on Captain’s Quarters to find “Winter Warming: Information and how to get and give help.”
Heating/Fuel
First Baptist Church of Blue Hill Deacons’ Fund, P.O. Box 836, Blue Hill, 04614. Steve and Sheila Heneise, 374-5907.
St. Francis-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church Rector’s Discretionary Fund, P.O. Box 76, Blue Hill, 04614. Claudia Smith, 374-5200.
First Congregational Church of Blue Hill Dolly Fisher Fund, P.O. Box 444, Blue Hill, 04614. Rob McCall, 374-2892.
Island Heating Assistance Program, 348-6602. Send donations made out to “Deer Isle/Sunset Church” with a notation on the memo line of “Island Heating Assistance Program” to Island Heating Assistance Program, P.O Box 383, Stonington, 04681.
Town of Surry heating fund. For information about the fund and how to donate, call the town office at 667-5912.
Brooklin Friends for a Warmer Town. A fund has been set up and a committee is working on guidelines. For more information, call the town office at 359-8394.
Keep ME Warm Fund, a statewide partnership to help people stay safe, warm and secure this winter through public and private contributions, volunteerism and advocacy, primarily for those who may not be eligible for limited federal, state or local fuel assistance programs. For information and to donate, visit www.keepmewarm.org; or mail to United Way of Greater Portland, P.O. Box 15200, Portland, 04112-5200.
THAW Fund, administered by the Washington Hancock Community Agency, provides emergency heating assistance when other sources have been exhausted. Not tied to income or assets. Contributions are tax-deductible and can be designated for specific towns or areas. Send donations to WHCS, THAW Fund, P.O. Box 299, Ellsworth, 04605; or submit online at www.whcacap.org. Information: 664-2424 or 800-828-7544.
Town of Stonington Heating Fund, 367-2351. Send donations to P.O. Box 9, Stonington, 04681.
Food Banks; Meals for Me
Hunters for the Hungry, a cooperative program between the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the state’s Emergency Food Assistance Program. Provides a way for hunters to donate all or a portion of their hunt to a local food pantry. Info: 888-4DEER-ME.
Island Pantry, lower level of Island Community Center, Memorial Lane, Stonington, 348-6181. Donations accepted of nonperishable foods, preferably canned fruits, soups and vegetables. Garden produce in season; call ahead. Monetary contributions welcome: P.O. Box 12, Stonington, 04681.
Tree of Life Food Pantry, 23 South Street, Blue Hill, 374-2900. Donations of food accepted. Also needed are non-food items not covered by the pantry’s mission, including pet supplies and diapers. Call for more information. Donations of clothing to The Turnstyle used clothing shop also support the food pantry. Monetary contributions welcome: P.O. Box 1329, Blue Hill, 04614.
Surry Loaves and Fishes II, basement of the Surry United Methodist Church, 1279 Main Street, 667-9689. Donations of nonperishable food accepted. Monetary contributions welcome: P.O. Box 98, Surry, 04684.
Health and Medical Needs
Adopt a Family through Blue Hill Memorial Hospital to help with medical expenses and prescription medications. Information: Ann Dickens, 374-3492. Donations can be made directly to Dickens or to “Adopt a Family,” Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, P.O. Box 823, Blue Hill, 04614.
Bagaduce Area Health Resources, 102 Court Street, Castine, 326-8005. Call to volunteer as a driver.
Stonington Church of the Nazarene, 58 South Burnt Cove Road, Stonington, 367-2271. Donations of durable medical equipment welcome.
Neighborcare, volunteers offering free health-related assistance to neighbors in need in all area towns. Drivers urgently needed for transportation to doctors and medical centers. If you need transportation or can offer to drive someone from Deer Isle/Stonington, call Anne Williams at 367-5823. Those in other area towns should call Maggie Davis at 266-7673. More information: http://heartsongbooks.com/neighbor.html.
Hunters for the Hungry, a cooperative program between the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the state’s Emergency Food Assistance Program. Provides a way for hunters to donate all or a portion of their hunt to a local food pantry. Info: 888-4DEER-ME.
Island Pantry, lower level of Island Community Center, Memorial Lane, Stonington, 348-6181. Donations accepted of nonperishable foods, preferably canned fruits, soups and vegetables. Garden produce in season; call ahead. Monetary contributions welcome: P.O. Box 12, Stonington, 04681.
Tree of Life Food Pantry, 23 South Street, Blue Hill, 374-2900. Donations of food accepted. Also needed are non-food items not covered by the pantry’s mission, including pet supplies and diapers. Call for more information. Donations of clothing to The Turnstyle used clothing shop also support the food pantry. Monetary contributions welcome: P.O. Box 1329, Blue Hill, 04614.
Surry Loaves and Fishes II, basement of the Surry United Methodist Church, 1279 Main Street, 667-9689. Donations of nonperishable food accepted. Monetary contributions welcome: P.O. Box 98, Surry, 04684.
Clothing
Queen’s Closet, better clothing for children to adults, ranging from church wear to prom clothes to job interview ensembles. Available on request. Donations welcome. Call Cathy Boyce, Stonington, 367-5061.
Community Clothes Closet, 58 South Burnt Cove Road, Stonington, 367-2271. Free clothing, household goods, furniture; also free lending service of handicapped aids. Tuesday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Thursday, 6-8 p.m., or by appointment. Donations of items listed are welcome.
Second Edition, Route 15, Sedgwick, next to Eggemoggin Country Store, 359-5514. Clothing donations welcome.
Turnstyle, 23 South Street, Blue Hill, 374-2900. Clothing donations accepted during business hours or in drop-off boxes on site. Donations support the Tree of Life Food Pantry.
Village Boutique, Enterprise Lane, just off Main Street in Surry village, 667-8454. Clothing donations welcome.
Goodwill Industries, 805 Stillwater Avenue, Bangor, 947-7984. Clothing donations welcome.
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