Winfred Jenkins, 89, prepares to put a fire log into one of her two wood stoves in her home on South Raleigh Street in Martinsburg. (Journal photo by Ron Agnir)

MARTINSBURG — Thanks to the help of a group of volunteers, 89-year-old Winnie Jenkins’ home should be cozier this winter.

This season’s Warming Hands and Hearts program, undertaken by the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle, began Friday morning as a crew of workers from Allegheny Power descended upon Jenkins’ South Raleigh Street home in an effort to winterize it for maximum heat efficiency.

The concept of the program, now in its second year, was twofold, said Trina Bartlett, director of community impact for the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle.

“It was primarily to keep the heat on for people who could otherwise not pay for their heating costs ... to fill gaps from government funding by raising community dollars,” Bartlett said.

As an additional part of providing energy assistance in the community, the United Way wanted to promote winterization of homes, she added.

“Allegheny Power stepped up to the plate, and provided materials and volunteers to do two homes,” Bartlett said.

Jenkins’ home was the first to be winterized by the team, which hopes to complete a project on a home in Jefferson County as well.

The winterization project was a good chance for the company to become more active in community events, said Debra Champ, general manager of operations for the Martinsburg region.

Jenkins and her siblings were born in the home, which was built in 1911.

The seven Allegheny Power volunteers installed insulation in the ceiling of the stone basement below the home.

“Where you lose the majority of your heat is through the floors, walls and ceiling,” Champ said.

They also added expanding foam insulation in holes around the single-pane windows, which they covered in plastic as well. Volunteers replaced Jenkins’ smoke detectors, too.

“What we did today is very inexpensive,” Champ said. “The insulation was probably the priciest part.”

Average homeowners can spend just about $25 for plastic and weatherstripping materials for their windows and use a few hours of manual labor to install the items.

“You’re really going to make a significant difference in your heating bill,” Champ said.

Though it was too soon to notice a difference Friday, Jenkins said she anticipated seeing the benefits of the volunteers’ work this winter. All the houses that surround her home are old as well, and could likely use similar repairs, too.

Allegheny Power offers a link on their Web site, www.alleghenypower.com, to a list of 100 ways homeowners can save on their electric bills.

The link details ways owners can perform audits on their homes to see where they can become more efficient.

Customers and homeowners can also call (800) ALLEGHENY to request brochures with the information, as well, Champ said.

— Staff writer Lauren Hough can be reached at 263-8931, ext. 163, or at lhough@journal-news.net