PITTSFIELD -- Town Manager Kathryn Ruth has 14 local senior citizens she typically checks on during the winter months to make sure they're able to stay warm.

She'd like to expand that list of people so Pittsfield neighbors can check on one another. With home-heating bills expected to be unaffordable for many this winter, Pittsfield town officials need to make an extra effort help people find assistance if they need it, Ruth said.

"More people had trouble last year than ever before," Ruth said.

On Tuesday night, Ruth outlined a laundry list of services and programs at a meeting of the Town Council.

The resources include electrical, fuel, telephone and weatherization assistance, and town officials thought it'd be best to get that information out earlier this year so "applications can get in ahead of time," Ruth said.

Ruth said the town for the first time will try and set up a new fund, "Keeping Our Neighbors Warm The Pittsfield Way," in addition to the town's existing general assistance. The program would be funded by local donations from residents and businesses to the town government.

Though the fund is "under consideration only," Ruth told council members that it would be an important resource for people who don't qualify for the income guidelines of general assistance. The town of Lincoln had a similar program that succeeded last year, she said.

"We caution people not to wait until they run out of oil," Ruth said.

Town officials also reviewed the state of Maine 211 telephone number established by United Ways of Maine and Ingraham. It offers access to information about health, social, economic and human services in the state.

"This is a great clearing house of information," Ruth said. "It does work."

Ruth also outlined programs such as Serve New England, which promotes volunteer service by offering discounts on grocery, meat, and vegetable items to people who volunteer two hours of time each month to a cause, and the Maine Senior Farm Share Program, which provides fresh locally grown produce free to low-income seniors. The Farm Share offers about $50 worth of free food to seniors, Ruth said, and it's not too late to seek the assistance.

"There are still some farms that have shares left," she said.

Scott Monroe, 487-3288

smonroe@centralmaine.com