Posters around Hickman County urge residents to apply for free weatherization services

“Could you use some help keeping winter outside where it belongs?”

That’s the question that organizers of Caulking the County, a weatherization campaign aimed at reducing winter heating costs for residents of Hickman County are asking.  Local residents will be seeing a colorful poster highlighting the campaign all over the county in the next few weeks.

The campaign will use volunteer help and donated materials to caulk windows, provide draft stoppers (material tubes that keep cold air from coming in under doors) and plastic for windows for those who sign up. Services and materials are provided free of charge. No one will come inside participants’ homes. All work will be performed outdoors.

Caulking and sealing off drafts are simple, but important, steps to a warmer homes and lower utility bills. According to experts, the gaps around the windows and doors in an average American house are the equivalent of a 3 foot by 3 foot hole in the wall! 

The program is open to any residence in Hickman County. There are no income requirements.  Renters will need landlord permission for any work performed on rental property.

Materials will be provided in part by First United Methodist Church of Clinton and Hickman-Fulton R. E. C. C.  Co-chairs Cherry Pyron and Mary Potter are recruiting volunteers from the high school, local churches, civic groups and anyone interested in helping out. 

Anyone who wants caulking, plastic or draft stoppers need only fill out the application on the back of a brochure that is also available around the community and return it to one of the chairs by October 8th.  Potter has extra brochures at her office for those coming into Clinton.

The chairs aren’t sure how many local residents will take advantage of the campaign.  Their goal is to reduce heating costs for those who do by at least 10%.

The work is planned to be completed the last two Saturdays in October. Volunteers are most welcome. Those who wish to help support the program financially can make a donation to Caulking the County at Clinton Bank.