Yet these days, cold weather is on the minds of people working on the front lines of social services in our area.
A lot of attention has been given to the impact the outrageous price of gas is having on low-income families and the middle class.

But if you think that's bad, just wait until winter.
The fact is, we as residents of a cold-weather state, and as a community concerned about the safety and welfare of its most vulnerable members, can't wait until then to talk about the price of home heating fuel this year.
If today's high gas prices are a crisis, tomorrow's home heating oil problem is going to be a catastrophe for Northwest Connecticut.

People are going to die because of this.
It's one thing to cut back on driving, to turn your SUV in for a hybrid. There are some ways, at least, to mitigate the cost of gas.

There will be few to no options this winter to avoid the impact of a humongous jump in home heating bills.
People are going to freeze to death.

Unfortunately, that's not an exaggeration. It's going to happen.

The need already outpaces the availability of assistance programs for home heating oil, and the big jump in prices this year has placed a huge population of middle class families in Northwest Connecticut into a bracket that desperately needs help but won't qualify to get it, if it's even available.

So here we are in July. It's a few months away still, but we know for sure this crisis is coming.
What can be done?
Save your money.

If you're not the budgeting kind - most people aren't - this is as good a time as ever to make an exception and start saving on discretionary items and putting away money to get you through this winter.

Give if you can.
The price of home heating fuel will affect us all, but if you know that you will make it through with a cushion, consider giving to help others make it through. The best bang for your buck is the United Way of Northwest Connecticut, which provides funding to 22 local social service agencies that provide a safety net for area residents in need. Donations of all sizes can be sent to the United Way at P.O. Box 1001, Torrington, CT 06790. You can also donate online at http://northwestunitedway.org. While the need is so much greater this year, the United Way has reduced its annual fundraising goal from=2 0last year because the economy has led to fewer people being able to give. Help fill that gap.

Talk about it.
Make a point to bring this topic up with friends, at church, at work. Talk to each other about what you can do to help. Talk to your local legislator and ask what the state is doing to head off this crisis.

Look out for your neighbors.
Remember this winter to check in on elderly neighbors and make sure they are OK. Talk to them now about how they're doing and what their plan is to make it through the winter.
Please join me in taking some time this summer to think about this winter. Lives depend on it.

Matt DeRienzo is publisher of The Register Citizen. He can be reached at (860) 489-3121, ext. 350, or by email at mderienzo@registercitizen.com.