Window insulation program wraps up
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The first annual Dover-Foxcroft Window Dressers Community Build “wrapped up” on Friday, Dec. 12 and has been called a success by the participants. The six-month project to measure windows and build the inexpensive window inserts ended with a five-day build held at the beautifully renovated storefront at the old Mr. Paperback building in Dover-Foxcroft, generously offered by owner Charles Fitzgerald.
Photo courtesy of Dover-Foxcroft Window Dressers
HELPING THE COMMUNITY STAY WARM — Patti Dowse of Cambridge, left, Diane Boretos of Sangerville and Bev Crockett of Cambridge were three of the volunteers who helped at the first annual Dover-Foxcroft Window Dressers Community Build held last week at the former Mr. Paperback space in downtown Dover-Foxcroft. The numerous volunteers constructed window inserts to help keep homes warm and reduce heating expenses.
The organizer, Dr. Lesley Fernow, called the build a huge success, reporting that over 240 inserts were made for 28
different individuals or businesses in nine different communities with an average cost per insert of $20.83. As part of the mission of Window Dressers to insulate the homes of people in need, approximately 20 percent of the inserts are made for low income people for a special price of $10 for 10 inserts. All people receiving inserts donate time or food for the participants to help during the one week “build” — there are jobs for everyone.
The pine frame inserts are made using a process which starts with teams going to a customer’s home to measure each window individually with a laser tool. The measurements are then put into a computer program which calculates the price per window and these are sent to the Window Dressers build site in Rockland. The wood is cut and frames are assembled in Rockland and then the local team completes the inserts using a carefully developed seven-step process. The final product is a clear window insert that can be easily inserted by the customer and removed if desired in the summer. It is estimated that a home with inserts saves 25 percent on heating and if all windows are insulated, the inserts can pay for themselves in the first heating season.
The Dover-Foxcroft Window Dressers group was started by Dr. Fernow as part of the Maine Highlands Senior Center and Thriving in Place coalition community outreach efforts. An excellent and dedicated core team really carried the load most of the summer and fall and supervised the build last week. The goal was to have a project that would involve people of all ages and reach people in need with neighbors helping neighbors. This goal has certainly been met, as there were volunteers from all sectors of the community and all ages.
“We found jobs for everyone who wanted to help,” Dr. Fernow said. In the final week there was fabulous community support from Charlotte White Center, Center Coffee House who donated coffee daily for the entire week, Will’s Shop ‘n Save, the town of Dover-Foxcroft, the Center Theatre and the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis.
Organizers are already looking forward to next year, and are hoping for an even bigger build. “We learned a lot this year about how to organize and manage the process,” Dr. Fernow said.
One of the disappointments of this year’s project was the inability to get student involvement. The hope is next year to engage some students in helping with the measuring team and with the build itself as a way to not only satisfy community service requirements but as a way to learn some useful skills while helping people in need. “We will have a smoother process and certainly will increase our numbers of participants next year,” Dr. Fernow said.
Photos courtesy of Dover-Foxcroft Window Dressers
BUSY AT WORK — Volunteers spend Dec. 7-11 assembling inserts as part of the first annual Dover-Foxcroft Window Dressers Community Build. Organizers hope to grow the program, which provides window inserts for area homes.