Firewood Bank Assistance Program

AGH is still awaiting a decision on whether funding will be available for a 2026–2027 grant cycle. Recipients of this newsletter will be among the first to know as soon as a decision is announced!

Downeast Wood Bank in Maine Received $5,500 Donation From Bangor Savings

Downeast Wood Bank shared on their Facebook page in late June that they were recipients of a generous donation by a local bank.

"Their donation will go towards building a garage to store our tractor and other equipment that needs to be out of the elements."

Help Spread the Word

YouTube Equipment Demos as an Educational Tool

This month’s featured video: Affordable Firewood Processor — But Does It Work?

If your firewood bank is thinking of upgrading its equipment, searching demos on YouTube can be a quick and easy way to learn about certain tools. For many firewood banks, buying equipment means stretching every grant dollar and donation. This video takes a practical look at a firewood processor under $10,000, showing it in action while also discussing its limitations and ways to improve it.

Firewood Banks in the News

Elbert County Nonprofit Provides Firewood to Help People in Need (CO)

“The wood bank’s success would not be possible without a robust group of volunteers. Hildebrandt said the DOEC, employees from Shady Tree Services and even the local fire department all donate their time to the wood bank. This year, County Commissioner Dallas Schroeder, Sheriff Tim Norton, Elizabeth Town Clerk Michelle Oeser and State Rep. Chris Richardson all came out to lend a hand. Local businesses also donate various services and materials to support the organization.”

Earth, Wind And Fire: Pueblo Wood Bank Makes Big Difference With Small Wood (NM)

“Established a few years ago, the wood bank is part of a broader initiative to use slash from thinning projects to heat homes in tribal communities. Each year, Garcia said volunteers process and deliver more than 1,000 cords of wood to people living on the pueblo.”

Adding to the Firewood Bank Archives

Every now and then, we come across firewood bank content that somehow escaped our attention or was published before the Firewood Bank Assistance Program began. During quieter months, we take the opportunity to revisit the archives and share these worthwhile finds. Here are a few we uncovered this month!

Freeport Wood Bank’s 2024 Presentation at the Freeport Community Library (ME)

Tony DiMarco introduced his community to the Freeport Wood Bank concept in November of 2024. Now, the Freeport Wood Bank has the goal of distributing 100 cords for the next winter. Learn more about them on their website and Facebook page!

College Students Volunteer at the Montague Wood Bank in 2019

A group of students from the University of Massachusetts’ Natural Resources Conservation (NRC) 100: Environment and Society course selected the Montague Wood Bank as their service project in November 2019. This type of community engagement was not new for NRC students. There are videos documenting their volunteer work with the Petersham Wood Bank date back as far as 2016!

Wood for Life Partnership was Awarded the Volunteer and Service Citizen Stewardship and Partnerships Award in 2021

Each year, the Volunteer and Service Citizen and Partnership Award is awarded to the organization that serves on mission-critical projects on public lands and to acknowledge the collective of volunteers and service participants who were particularly impactful in Forest Service efforts.

Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation Highlights Their Community Wood Bank Program in 2021

DCR Wood Utilization Forester Sean Mahoney explains the basics of the DCR Community Wood Bank Program which enables rural communities to recycle surplus trees into firewood to address energy insecurity. The trees used for this program come from the local community as a result of storm damage, utility right-of-way work, and roadside hazards. Read more about the program here.

Do you have firewood bank stories to tell or resources to share? Email us!