The town of Petersham, Massachusetts, is the first in the commonwealth to offer a community wood bank to help people heat their homes. The wood bank is modeled after established ones in Maine and New Hampshire.
Petersham Tree Warden Melissa LeVangie says people applying for emergency wood must meet only two qualifications.
“First of all, you have to be a resident. Two, that you see yourself in need,” LeVangie says. “What we’re trying to do is get this wood to the people. It’s town wood. It makes sense to get to them.”
LeVangie says the wood bank distributes half-pallets of wood.
“It was a reasonable amount that could get a family or a house through a week’s worth of heating, but still be able to fit into most private vehicles that aren’t necessarily a truck,” she says.
The Petersham Town Administrator has handed out ten vouchers for emergency wood since the bank began operating earlier this month.
Listen to more of Carrie Healy’s interview with LeVangie by clicking the audio player above.