AUGUSTA -- When it comes to heating their homes, citizens with income levels too high to qualify for public assistance but not high enough to cover skyrocketing oil bills are likely to fall through the cracks this winter.

With that demographic in mind, public and non-profit officials in the Augusta area Thursday launched a fundraising campaign aimed at helping residents in southern Kennebec County survive a tough winter.

The fundraising push, which involves the United Way of Kennebec Valley and Goodwill Industries, is aimed at 19 communities in southern Kennebec County.

"We're going to go out and raise as much as we can, and it probably won't be enough," Augusta Mayor Roger Katz said at a news conference publicizing the campaign.

In October, hundreds of collection canisters will go out to area businesses and organizations.

"These openings are not only wide enough for coins, but bills," Katz said, showing off a blue canister labeled "Heat Helpers."

Robert Gordon, executive director of United Way of Kennebec Valley, said the organization will mail fundraising appeals in the coming weeks.