Keeping Windham and Raymond residents warm this winter with free window inserts

The Maine Energy AmeriCorps
Program and GrowSmart Maine
along with volunteers, are eager to
help as many people as possible
to keep their heating costs low
by offering free window inserts
for eligible families.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR QUALIFIED FAMILIES

By Lorraine Glowczak

In its fourth year, the Maine Energy AmeriCorps Program (MEAP) and GrowSmart Maine will provide free customized window inserts for eligible families in an effort to help individuals who live in the greater Windham and Raymond areas to stay warm this winter, saving on energy costs.

Each eligible household can receive up to 10 window inserts at no cost.

MEAP and GrowSmart Maine, which partners with WindowDressers and Efficiency Maine, as detailed in a recent press release that window insulating inserts are a great option for homeowners and renters because they do not require any fasteners and can be easily slid into existing windows.

From now until mid-October, AmeriCorps volunteer Grace Sherman, will be leading the effort, seeking individuals who can benefit greatly from this service.

“We are eager to help as many people as possible in the Windham and Raymond communities and have begun recruiting eligible households,” Sherman said. “Although the actual building of the window inserts will not occur until the last week of October, we want to spread the word now.”

As soon as Sherman begins receiving requests, she and other AmeriCorps members and/or volunteers will visit homes to determine the size of each window using a tool that records the measurement accurately to ensure a custom fit.

According to the Window Dressers website, “each insulating window insert is made of a custom-made pine frame wrapped in two layers of tightly sealed, clear polyolefin film and finished with a compressible foam gasket. The foam allows enough give for the inserts to be easily slid into place in the fall and removed in the spring, while holding firmly enough to provide a tight, friction-based seal that stops drafts and adds two more insulating air spaces between your home and your window.”

Sherman said that eligible individuals from each household are asked to volunteer their time and build their own inserts, but those who are unable to do so, MEAP will recruit extra volunteers.

“Not only do we seek individuals who need to keep warm this winter, but we are also in need of volunteers,” Sherman said. “Volunteers can choose from one of four days with a variety of shifts. This way, we can accommodate everyone’s schedules.”

Sherman added that window inserts are also for those who do not meet the qualifications for discounted inserts but can participate in the program for a nominal fee plus volunteer time.

The window insert build will take place at Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, 54 River Road in Windham from Tuesday, Oct. 26 to Saturday, Oct. 30.

If you or someone you know is interested in or in need of window inserts, contact Grace Sherman at grace.sherman@maine.edu. To sign up as a volunteer, visit www://signup.com or http://windowdressers.org/community-workshops/.

About the Maine Energy AmeriCorps Program:

The Maine Energy AmeriCorps Program (MEAP) is an AmeriCorps program focused on environmental stewardship and economic opportunity. The MEAP program aims to educate individuals throughout the state of Maine about resources to improve energy efficiency and cost savings and provides light weatherization services such as home energy checks and free window insert installations for economically disadvantaged Mainers. MEAP is a project of Maine Campus Compact, a consortium of 17 campuses whose purpose is to reinvigorate the public purposes of higher education. Maine Campus Compact is under the fiscal umbrella of the University of Southern Maine and is hosted on the USM Lewiston-Auburn campus. <