HARTFORD – Sylvia Cavannaugh could feel the cold wind blow through the kitchen and living room windows of her mobile home.

The chill had gotten so bad at times that she thought of putting on a hat at night, like the characters in the poem, “The Night Before Christmas.” And neither she, nor her husband Paul, was able to do anything about it.

Thankfully, she said, volunteers at Hartford Community Church learned of the elderly couple’s need and decided to help.

Claire Austin, an elder with the church, said she and others decided this year to take over the Keep ME Warm program, a volunteer project that had been administrated by Community Concepts in Paris. When the church membership realized that materials for such seemingly simple things as plastic for windows and insulation for water pipes would no longer come from the social service agency, they decided to pick up the project themselves.

“In the Northeast, it’s a basic need to try to stay warm,” Austin said.

The small Presbyterian church used some funding remaining from an administrative account because the church had been without a pastor for a couple of months, along with some money from fundraising.

With it, members bought plastic for windows and mobile home foundations, caulking, and insulation for pipes, as well as other items that could help people to stay warm in their homes.

Then, a group of volunteers got together to do the work.

“This is an outreach for Hartford residents,” said Austin, who with her husband sealed the Cavannaugh residence last weekend.

Unlike the Keep ME Warm program that had been administered by Community Concepts, those who take advantage of the volunteer work don’t have to meet any kind of federal or state guidelines. Austin said the volunteers learn who needs help through word of mouth, most often at church.

Sandy Albert, housing and energy services office manager at Community Concepts, said money for buying materials this year did not come through.

She said she doesn’t know why, and perhaps it will be back later.

A news release issued by Gov. John Baldacci’s office for the Keep ME Warm program focuses on types of energy sources, conservation methods, and offers “warm kits” containing similar items.

Albert said, however, that her office, which serves Androscoggin and Oxford counties, have few kits to distribute to eligible people.

She believes the Hartford Community Church outreach program is a good way to meet the needs of chilly homeowners.

“Other churches or organizations could start their own help program,” she said.

Austin said her church will likely complete a dozen or so projects this season. Next year, she hopes to get youth groups and other organizations involved.

She wants to help other communities or churches establish programs, too.

Anyone in Hartford who needs help with winterizing their home, or any organization that would like to set up a similar program, may contact Austin at 336-2919 or [email protected].

Cavannaugh is grateful to the church.

“It’s a great thing they do. They are awfully helpful to community people,” she said.