Even though the cost of heating oil is up and the amount of available government assistance is down 42 percent, there is hope on the horizon. That hope is encased in a heater about the size of a small footstool that can warm a room for about $1 a day.

The infrared heaters have a proven track record of helping stretch the amount of money used to heat a home and are a Godsend for those with limited incomes, said Patsy Dowling, the executive director of Mountain Projects. The heating units cost about $175 each if purchased in bulk, but only donations can be used as government funds are restricted.

Dowling is on the front lines when it comes to understanding the gap between needs and available resources. as Mountain Projects is the designated agency through the social services department that ...