RUMFORD – The approaching heating season is going to be hard on people, particularly the elderly who may feel they have to choose between keeping warm, eating, or buying their medications.

The Rotary Club wants to help.

Patricia Duguay, a past president of the club and a co-coordinator of the effort, said there is such an obvious need to try to reduce fuel costs.

“Oil prices have doubled, and that has such a trickle-down effect on food. We’re concerned about our elders. The cost of oil affects everything.”

She and Gary Haines, the club’s vice president-elect, are coordinating an effort to bring together 10 teams of four to six people each to help weatherize the homes of 60 senior or disabled citizens who own their homes.

The goal is to put the teams to work on Oct. 18 and to finish the work by the end of the month.

“We’re trying to help the community and our neighbors,” said Haines.

The teams will insulate older windows with plastic, caulk or weather-strip, insulate outlets and doors, and weatherize bulkheads.

A packet of information will be put together offering energy-saving tips and well as the names of agencies that offer additional assistance, then passed out by the teams to senior homeowners.

Duguay has written a $2,500 Rotary grant application. If approved, the money will be used to buy items to weatherize homes.

“It is important that we do this, whether we get the grant or not,” said Haines.

The club has a wish list of items they’d like people to donate, such as plastic window and door kits, weather-stripping, caulk, and tools needed for installation.

“We’re a small club, but we’ll do what we can to make a difference,” Duguay said.

Any senior or disabled person living in any of the River Valley’s 10 towns may apply for assistance.

Haines said at least a dozen people have already volunteered to help, and several have indicated they’d like help with insulation.

The club hopes to get all the volunteers lined up by the end of August, and all the homeowner projects identified by the end of September.

“I think we’ll see a lot more communities doing this,” said Haines.