Fortine wood bank earns grant

The St. Michael and All Angels Wood Bank Ministry based in Fortine has been awarded a $20,000 grant.

The wood bank has provided supplemental firewood to low-income veterans, the elderly, the disabled and families since 2011. It is operated completely by volunteers and donations all these years.

The funding comes from the Alliance for Green Heat, a nonprofit organization chosen by the U.S. Forest Service in 2022 to administer a national program to support volunteer firewood banks. The grant will allow the wood bank to purchase a new wood splitter, logs, tarps, fuel cards, bar and chain oil and to rent a wood processor and excavator.

“With oil, propane and gas heating prices rising so quickly, we help local families stay warm each winter with deliveries and load ups of free firewood,” said Pattiann Bennett, organizer of the Wood Bank. “Last year, we served 80 plus households giving out 250 plus loads. To date, we’re at 100 loads out since the first of November.”

Modeled after food banks, many firewood banks depend on wood donated by tree trimmers, towns and homeowners to distribute to community members. There are more than 100 firewood banks around the country and each one is eligible for a grant of up to $15,000 to purchase equipment so that they can more efficiently process firewood.

St. Michael Wood Bank work days are every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, located at the corner of Grave Creek Road and U.S. 93 in Fortine. Load-ups and deliveries happen then too.

Additional volunteers and sources of wood are welcome. 

For more information, contact Bennett at 406-882-4498. 

For more information on the firewood bank funding program: https://www.firewoodbanks.org.