Funding available for volunteer firewood banks!

[John Ackerly]

We got a big grant from the US Forest Service to give sub-grants of up to $15,000 to volunteer firewood banks. If you know of a firewood bank in your area, please let them know about this funding opportunity. Funding is intended mainly for splitters, trailers, chainsaws, drying sheds and all manner of safety equipment. Buying truck length logs is also an eligible expense.

Its a non-competitive grant and there are very few reasons for an existing firewood bank to be denied. They do have to agree to use safety equipment like chaps and have their volunteers sign a liability waiver form - and do their absolute best to only deliver seasoned firewood during the heating season. Its been a fascinating process learning about the scores of banks around the country, especially the tribal ones. On the east coast, a lot of firewood banks deliver 20 - 100 cord per winter. One tribal firewood band delivered 1,800 cords!

We are processing applications on a rolling basis and still plenty of funding left.

Home | Alliance For Green H

www.firewoodbanks.org

Thanks,

John

 

[Ashful]

Nice!

Not to be a Dick, but... define "seasoned". If the experience developed on this forum says anything, they should be nailing that term down with some actual numbers and methods of measurement, to qualify.

 

[John Ackerly]

We use 20% MC. We absolutely don't want to fund firewood banks that are delivering wood over 30% MC during the heating season, but we can't monitor it. They are required to use moisture meters and periodically record and report moisture content.
John

 

[Supersurvey]

What is a firewood bank?

 

[begreen]

What is a firewood bank?

Yes, I haven't heard of that term. Are they required to sell the wood at a set discount? Or do they offer it for free?

 

[rwhite]

The tribe near me has a similar program. They deck the firewood logs separate from the mill logs. When the fire crews are slow they buck and split it. Elders and disabled members get up to 10 cords a year.

 

[Ashful]

I read up on them (just a little), and they seem to be like a food bank, but for firewood. A great idea, but a heck of a lot more work than collecting donated canned goods!

 

[John Ackerly]

Yes, I haven't heard of that term. Are they required to sell the wood at a set discount? Or do they offer it for free?

Firewood banks are just like food banks and lots of churches run both. We estimate that there are at least over 100 wood banks but there could be twice that amount. They give the wood away to needy households in their communities. Some do more formal income verification or require recipients to be elderly. Some expect recipients to volunteer for a day or two, or help out however they are able - like bringing baked goods for the volunteers. It s a pretty inspiring network of groups that really believe in firewood! So part of our work is identifying them and getting them to learn from another. Congress earmarked $8 million to support them over 5 years, and we got $712,000 for the first year. Here is more about them: http://www.forgreenheat.org/issues/firewoodbanks.html

 

[begreen]

We have a local program like this for seniors and folks in need. I will contact them.

 

[Highbeam]

After putting in time at our local food bank running fork lifts and moving freight, I would much rather be processing firewood to help. Nice concept, even if the wood isn’t perfectly seasoned to “hearth.com” standards.

 

[begreen]

John, can you check your PM? I have an interested local group that could use some help.

 

[John Mc]

Wow. I had not be on Hearth.com in quite some time. I had told a cousin about the site years ago. He knew that I am one of the co-organizers of our local woodbank here in Monkton, Vermont. When he stumbled across mention here of the grant program for woodbanks, he suggested I might want to have a look. I followed the link @John Ackerly posted to find out more: http://www.forgreenheat.org/issues/firewoodbanks.html I was very surprised when I got to the bottom of the page to see a picture of myself along with the co-organizer of the Monkton WoodBank, Lee Kauppila. I'm really curious how they ended up with this picture of our small operation when we had no idea they or the grant program even existed.

 

[PAbeech]

Wish there was one in Wayne or Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania

 

[MountainHawk]

Do firewood banks have competitive rates?

Kidding aside, sounds like a great program! I am going to see if there is something like this in my area. I know someone drops wood off at the fire station before snow storms. I wonder who ever is doing that can get some grant action.