Rails - Mar 2006 - Local Collection Variables in Helpers

Is there any way i can reference a local variable of a partials  
collection in the helper?

For instance, for each iteration of a list represented in a partials  
collection i want to display a default value if no value is set.  i   
would rather not litter the view with conditionals. When i write a  
helper method referring to the local collection variable (eg.  
collection_name.title) it gives me an error:  undefined local  
variable or method

is this possible?

thanks,
Sebastian