Woodbank Ministry

What is this Woodbank Ministry, and why is there firewood in our parking lot for much of the year?

About 3 years ago, one of our food pantry clients asked if we could help provide him with firewood to heat his home. We were able to help, but we also realized that other people in Pagosa sometimes had to choose between eating and heating. After extensive research, we organized a woodbank ministry to cut and split firewood for anyone in Pagosa who needed it.

How do we get firewood, or does it magically appear?

We do have relationships with some community businesses that donate wood to us. Typically, church and community members who have felled trees on their property call the church office to let us know they want to donate their wood. We organize workdays where we go to the property, cut rounds, and transport them back to the church parking lot, where we later split them. We’re thankful that our liability insurance covers service activities like this at any location.

How do we distribute the firewood?

People in need of firewood should contact the church office or email the Woodbank ministry. Someone from the Woodbank ministry will then contact them to determine how much they need and whether and when they can pick it up.  We encourage people to pick up their firewood during food pantry hours or on Sunday mornings, and we’ll arrange for people to help load or unload. We’ll also make arrangements for delivery.

Who does all this work, and can I help?

The Woodbank Ministry relies on our parishioners to make this all happen. We need all kinds of people to be successful! When we are cutting rounds, we need people who own and can operate chainsaws, people who can help carry the rounds, people with trucks and/or trailers who can help transport the rounds to the church, people to help supervise the youth, and people who are willing to donate drinks and help serve food. When we split wood in the parking lot, we need people who can operate our splitters, help carry and stack the split wood, supervise the youth, donate drinks, and help serve food.

This sounds like a fun and worthwhile ministry, so how can I sign up?

To participate in a woodbank work day, simply sign up on the sheet in the narthex. Or, if you miss signing up, just show up! We’re a very welcoming group, and it’s a great way to experience fellowship and get to know others in the church.

What safety protocols do you have in place for the use of chainsaws?

We take safety very seriously and want everyone to go home safely. Experienced chainsaw users can refresh their safety mindset by reviewing a safety video such as this: https://youtu.be/KcoN0mNivaI?si=ZkY9BwWpnT8Bz0gI. Less-experienced adults, or those looking to learn, can request coaching from our experts. Youth who are interested in learning to use a chainsaw must have parental permission and will be assigned an experienced coach.

Is it ok to bring my kids or grandchildren, and how can I keep them safe?

We typically have several YouthServe members and other youth participants at each workday, and we welcome their energy and assistance! Participants younger than 4th grade must have a parent or grandparent present.  All youth younger than 4th grade will be assigned an adult safety buddy who must be with them at all times. Youth who leave their safety buddy will be asked to sit at the food table for 10 minutes, or until they choose to return to their safety buddy.  All other youth under 18 will be assigned an adult safety buddy who will check in periodically.

Cutting firewood makes me hungry and thirsty. Do you provide food and drinks?

St. Patrick’s provides food on each workday, and we ask for one or two families to provide drinks. Contact information for donating drinks will be provided in the newsletter one or two weeks before each workday. We also encourage people to bring water bottles.

 Do I need any special equipment to participate in a workday?

If you didn’t sign up to bring a chainsaw or truck/trailer, please bring work gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, a water bottle, and closed-toe shoes. You may also want to bring a camp chair for breaks.