Blog Archives

Looking Out for Federal Workers During Shutdown

1/16/2019

We are a community who has always been quick to lend a hand to our neighbors experiencing a crisis or temporary setback. If you or a neighbor are a Scarborough resident and are without a paycheck because of the federal government shutdown, and need help with fuel assistance, food, or other essentials, please give us a call at 883-5111. (For resources for neighbors in other towns, call 211 Maine.)

Others in the community are ready to help, too. The Scarborough Food Pantry and South Portland Food Cupboard are a couple of the local pantries open every week to distribute food. Area banks and credit unions may be able offer temporary low-interest loans to help federal workers get by until the shutdown ends. >>MORE

Not sure where to start? Call us at 883-5111.

Keeping Our Neighbors Warm

1/15/2019

Please save the date for our annual rally for fuel assistance: Saturday, February 16th 10-Noon at the Oak Hill Fire House. Our goal is to raise $15,000, and whether you give a little or a lot, you can help your neighbors keep warm this winter.

Helping The Pantry Feed Seniors

1/10/2019

Project GRACE has been working with our very good friends at the Scarborough Food Pantry to give seniors a boost in their monthly food budgets. With the help of Wayside Foods, boxes of staples like soups and peanut butter, juice and cereal, canned fruit and vegetables are provided to eligible seniors. For Scarborough residents, home delivery is an option. We wanted to give a shout out to the many helping hands that make this project a growing success!

BRRR... It's COLD! How do You Keep Warm?

1/6/2019

Here are a few tips for keeping warm. Visit us on FaceBook to share yours...

Use curtains or window shades -- open them when it's sunny so you can get solar gain, close them when the sun goes down or during extremely cold spells to add an extra layer of insulation between you and the frigid air outside -- need a quick, inexpensive fix? Try a pvc/plastic shower curtain liner! It can also help to put curtains on a tension rod on doors leading to the outside.
Close closet doors to keep more of the heat in the room.
Wear layers - a fleece vest, sweater, or extra pair of warm socks can keep your body warmer, which is easier than keeping a whole room or house warmer.
Allow air to circulate around baseboards and radiators -- make sure you aren't blocking all that heat by having a sofa or comfy armchair or bunch of stuff between the heat and the rest of the room and you.
Keep your baseboards and radiators clean -- dusting and vacuuming regularly helps the heat move more easily.
Be quick about entering or leaving your house -- and make sure you have all your things so you don't have to go back multiple times -- every time you open the door, you've made a 21 square-foot hole in the wall!
Be heat smart -- if you want heat, raise the setting on the thermostat slowly and stop when you hear your furnace start -- sometimes a little blast of warmth is all you need.
It's never too late to find out if there are air-leaks that can be fixed with a small investment -- adding foam insulation, caulking cracks, and well-placed insulation can add up over time to more heat and a smaller fuel bill, too.
Using low-flow shower heads and installing programmable thermostats can also help you save on fuel and funds.
Install a door sweep -- or make a door 'snake' -- to keep air from escaping under the sill (DIY: sew a long thin cloth tube of scrap fabric, fill it with dried rice, beans, or sand -- something heavy enough to keep it in place). It's amazing how even a small draft can make a room a lot colder, so if you can cut that bit of air out it immediately makes a difference.
Keep blankets and lap rugs handy and use them. When we sit, our circulation slows down. Keeping a throw blanket over your lap while you're knitting or watching TV can improve your comfort levels without turning up the thermostat.
Watch your thermostat, and put it down at night or when you leave the house -- some studies show turning your thermostat down by 1° could cut your heating bill by as much as 5%.

>>More tips from "This Old House"

Here are a couple tips that might keep your pipes from freezing:

Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
Turning faucets to a trickle helps prevent pipes from freezing; use cold water rather than warm.
If needed, wrap pipes in insulation or newspaper or heat tape from the hardware store.

Looking Out for Federal Workers During Shutdown

Keeping Our Neighbors Warm

Helping The Pantry Feed Seniors

BRRR... It's COLD! How do You Keep Warm?

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Categories

Archives