AUGUSTA -- Almost as many people have applied for heating assistance this season as applied all of last winter, and the warm relief of spring is still a long way away.

"We've taken about 9,500 applications, which is close to what we took all last year," said Pat Kosma, chief executive officer of Kennebec Valley Community Action Program. "And we've still got three months to go."

KVCAP processes applications locally for anyone seeking help through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Residents may contact KVCAP at 1(800) 542-8227 to schedule an appointment to determine their LIHEAP eligibility. It can take about 10 days for payment once eligibility has been determined, Kosma said.

Other agencies and charities use LIHEAP as a way to judge whether applicants are eligible for heating assistance.

In other words, when people are qualified to receive LIHEAP funding, they also automatically are considered for other forms of help, too.

"It's important to know LIHEAP really opens the door for lots of other things," said Rob Gordon, executive director of the United Way of Kennebec Valley.

Gordon spoke Friday at a meeting of the Home Heating Challenge, a group including representatives from local municipalities, charities, state agencies, police, and utilities and oil businesses in central Maine.

The group, which has met annually each of the past few winters to discuss ways to keep Mainers warm, recently produced a brochure listing resources, contacts and what assistance is available in the area.

The group also raises funds for its own emergency heating fund. Gordon describes the intent of that money as a "fund of last resort," to be tapped when all other resources have already been used, or in emergencies when other resources are not immediately available.

He said they're trying to avoid making payments from the fund until the new year.

Last year, the fund ran dry in April but continued to receive requests for help.

So far this year, about $41,000 has been raised for the fund. Donations include a $15,000 contribution from a local family trust, with a request it be dedicated to helping elderly residents.

The funds will be dispersed through Goodwill Industries, according to Dan Vigue, an employment specialist with Goodwill.

The fund can pay for heating fuel, including firewood, although dry firewood can be hard to find this time of year.

Vigue said every caller for assistance from Goodwill is also offered help finding a job if they don't have one.

Gordon noted, however, that employment services are not necessarily offered to elderly residents seeking heating assistance.

"With the elderly, we're not as interested in getting that person into the work force as we are getting them through the winter," Gordon said.

An electronics recycling dropoff day between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. today at the Augusta Civic Center could help the United Way raise funds for the heating fund.

There is no charge for Maine residents to drop off old electronic devices like computer monitors and televisions at the event, but the United Way will be accepting donations. The dropoff spot will be in the lower parking area of the Augusta Civic Center.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com