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Volunteer
No. Each volunteer position has its own requirements, responsibilities, authority, etc. For more information see the Positions list.
Yes. However, those under the age of 18 years may not serve on teams that operate power equipment (chain saws and log splitters) or be a driver.
No. We would rather you show-up than sign-up.
If you need training, then please contact us. We always appreciate a heads-up that you are coming!
The easiest way to volunteer to help WNC FireWood is to use the Contact Us form or send us an Email.
If you have not previously volunteered, or need training for an additional position, please just contact us and we will make arrangement for your training and first workday.
Otherwise, you can just show up at a planned workday, although we always appreciate a heads-up that you are coming!
Our normal scheduled workday is 4 hours. If you cannot participate the entire time, please contact us so we can plan the workday accordingly.
Certainly! While some important positions do not even require mobility, most require just normal walking while carrying the equivalent of one or two gallon jugs of water. Most wood processing positions do require being able to stand and walk for most of a work shift, with ample opportunity for short breaks.
Yes. Please contact us with your preferred work time and we likely can make suitable arrangements. This is easier if you are requesting a time for a group of 3 or more volunteers who can work together as a team.
Each volunteer position has listed required and optional safety equipment, including those items WNC FireWood provides (such as helmets) and those we expect the volunteer to provide (such as leather shoes). This is covered on our Training Pages.
No. You may be trained for many positions. If there is a need at the time for someone to fill another position you can transition to that position by talking to your team leader or site supervisor.
Being flexible in your work assignments is helpful to assure that all the work that needs be accomplished is completed in a timely manner.
The only overall expectation of all volunteers is to act consistent with having a love of our Lord Jesus and a heart for serving others.
Each position has specific position requirements (see the Positions page).
Workdays are scheduled in 4 hour blocks. Volunteers are requested to volunteer for at least 3 workdays per year.
We have positions ranging from purely administrative to physically challenging; positions with supervision responsibility to worker-bees. Check out the Positions Page.
Planned workdays are posted on our home page. We typically only schedule workdays about a month in advance. Please contact us should you require additional information or further details.
We do encourage volunteers to form teams that work together. Normally a team can work at any time convenient to the team.
No. As a minimum we require all work teams to consist of at least 2 individuals, preferably more. When delivering firewood to a client we require at least 3 volunteers.
Organization
Yes, however, donations must be made through one of our sponsoring congregations. The donation will then be tax deductible through that congregation who will make the funds available to the ministry.
Please contact us for further information. We will be happy to guide you through the simple process.
Through the WNC FireWood ministry a congregation meets some of the needs of our neighbors.
All ministry work is done for the sponsoring congregations. That means that when a home is warmed through this ministry it is being warmed by the congregation. Mention that WNC FireWood is sponsored by the congregation is made in all public communications, including to receiving clients.
Each entity that is part of WNC FireWood is responsible for their own liability coverage. In addition, specific liability waivers are signed providing the ministry and partners additional protection.
WNC FireWood is a ministry of our sponsoring congregations. See our Sponsors Page.
WNC FireWood has partnered with several other local entities to be able to provide firewood to those in our community needing firewood heating assistance. See our Partners Page.
The Firewood Ministry is a semi-autonomous organization operating in a network environment managed by the Management Team. There are many work teams that carry out various aspects of the ministry. See the Volunteer Teams Page.
WNC FireWood is a 100% volunteer organization. We do not have any paid positions.
If you would like to volunteer or desire more information about volunteer positions, see the Teams and Positions pages or contact us. See also the Volunteer FAQ.
Yes and No.
No, in that WNC FireWood is not a separate legal entity and thus is not a registered non-profit in and of itself. However…
Yes, in that WNC FireWood is a ministry of and operates under our sponsoring organizations, each of who are registered non-profits.
To become a WNC FireWood sponsor, the congregation agrees to: share with the other sponsors non-titled property ownership and ministry liability; provide some annual financial support to the ministry; provide means for individuals to make additional financial donations to the ministry through the congregation; and present to the congregation, and when appropriate to the general public, information about WNC FireWood as received from the ministry.
Please Contact Us for further information or to begin the simple process of becoming a WNC FireWood sponsor, joining our current Sponsors.
Several organizations have partnered with WNC FireWood to make this ministry possible. They each have contributed significant and key resources to allow us to provide free firewood heating assistance to our qualified neighbors. See the list of our Partners.
The firewood ministry goes by the name “WNC FireWood.” It is a ministry of our sponsoring organizations, and can thus be referred to, for example, as the “Firewood Ministry of Brevard First United Methodist Church” or “WNC Firewood, a ministry of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.”
WNC FireWood is sponsored by multiple congregations in the area. A listing of our current sponsors may be found on our Sponsors page.
Donations
Yes, however, donations must be made through one of our sponsoring congregations. The donation will then be tax deductible through that congregation who will make the funds available to the ministry.
We may be able to accept donations of equipment. Please contact us.
We do not have the means to transport donated firewood, rounds or logs.
If you have split firewood, we recommend contacting Sharing House (contact info) for adding it to their firewood bins.
If you have hardwood rounds that meet our specifications, or have hardwood logs, and can provide transportation for them, you may contact us. We may be able to accept them at our woodlot.
You may donate funds to WNC FireWood through any of our Sponsors, directing the gift to “WNC FireWood”.
Please note that WNC FireWood is not itself a qualified non-profit organization. Rather, we are a ministry of our sponsoring organization, each of which are so qualified. Donation receipts for tax purposes will come from the organization through whom the donation is made.
Yes and No.
No, in that WNC FireWood is not a separate legal entity and thus is not a registered non-profit in and of itself. However…
Yes, in that WNC FireWood is a ministry of and operates under our sponsoring organizations, each of who are registered non-profits.
As with any organization, WNC FireWood has operating and capital expenses.
Operating Expenses includes such expenses as gas and oil for our equipment, replacement chains for the chain saws, plastic to cover drying stacked firewood, and so on.
We currently do not have explicit Capital Expense proposals, however, we know that we will need to purchase a delivery vehicle, additional chain saws and log splitter, and permanent covering for wood storage.
Each sponsoring congregation, as part of their outreach ministry, provides some funding for the ministry. This is expected to furnish most of the operating expenses for the ministry.
Individual donations will supplement the operating expenses and provide matching funds for capital expense grant requests.
As we are in our first year, we do not yet have an annual report for WNC FireWood.
You can check with the individual Sponsors for their annual reports.
If you would like additional financial information, please contact us.
Ministry
Yes! We serve all areas served by Sharing House, which is all of Transylvania County.
This is our first year of ministry so we do not have historical data, however, our goal is to serve at least 50 clients for firewood delivery for the winter of 2023-2024.
All clients are qualified by Sharing House. Thus, to start the process to receive a load of firewood, contact Sharing House; their contact information is listed on our Partners Page.
No. All clients must be qualified through Sharing House.
No. WNC FireWood is a ministry of, and thus a part of, our Sponsoring Congregations.
WNC FireWood makes available split firewood to clients of Sharing House. Since Sharing House already has in place a process for qualifying clients to receive home heating assistance through firewood delivery, WNC FireWood sees no reason for duplicating that process. Thus the partnership between WNC FireWood and Sharing House provides benefit to both organizations as well as serving the clients.
Currently we only serve clients of Sharing House; thus currently we only serve residents of Transylvania County.
A delivery to a client is about one cord of firewood. Currently a cord of firewood delivered to a client has an estimated value of about $300. If we deliver 50 cords of firewood that is about $15,000 of value to our clients.
We expect most firewood will be delivered between November and February.
It is possible the ministry at some future point will expand to serve neighboring communities. This will only occur after we are convinced we can satisfy the needs within our current area of ministry.
Operations
Anyone can volunteer with WNC FireWood, however, we require all volunteers to be trained by our leadership and are expected to follow all procedures and guidelines of the ministry.
Those under the age of 18 years may not serve on those teams that operate power equipment (chain saws and log splitters) or be a driver.
It is best to schedule the training before showing up, as this will assure being able to get the training when desired. If you just show up, we may not be able to accommodate your training at that time.
Yes. Some of that material is available on our website (see our Training Pages). This material is constantly reviewed and updated to assure all operations are performed in a safe manner.
Certainly! While some important positions do not even require mobility, most require just normal walking while carrying the equivalent of one or two gallon jugs of water. Most wood processing positions do require being able to stand and walk for most of a work shift, with ample opportunity for short breaks.
Yes. While we value each volunteer’s previous experience and training, by completing our training you will better understand our specific requirements and procedures. Previous knowledge can significantly expedite the training, shortening the already simple procedure.
Each volunteer position has listed required and optional safety equipment, including those items WNC FireWood provides (such as helmets) and those we expect the volunteer to provide (such as leather shoes). This is covered on our Training Pages.
Yes. The woodlot has excellent cellular coverage.
No. We do, however, expect all volunteers to act consistent with having a love of our Lord Jesus and a heart for serving others.
The first time you volunteer for a position you should sign up and schedule your training for the position.
After that, if you know you will be coming, as a courtesy to the leaders it would be helpful to let them know a day or two ahead of time. However, when we have a workday scheduled you may just show up at the scheduled starting time.
Workdays are scheduled in 4 hour blocks. Volunteers are requested to volunteer for at least 3 workdays per year.
We request all volunteers complete their training for each position prior to working in that position. This is normally done on the first day of volunteering for that position.
For security reasons, we do not disclose the woodlot location other than to volunteers who need access to the woodlot.
All volunteers received position-specific training. For most positions this must be done prior to working and is coordinated by our Equipment Coordinator. All positions also receive additional on-the-job training and supervision.