Woodbank Ministry
2024 Work Days: We will begin each work day around 11:30 am in the church parking lot to either carpool to our off-site location or to get organized for splitting. We're typically finished by 2:30. Directions to the off-site property will be communicated in the church newsletter the week before the work day if you want to meet us there.
· May 5: cut rounds at Goldmann property and transport to church parking lot
· June 2: cut rounds at Goldmann property and transport to church parking lot
· July 7: cut rounds at Goldmann property and transport to church parking lot
· August 11: split rounds at church
· September 8: split rounds at church
· October 6: split rounds at church
Woodbank Ministry FAQ’s
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 there were other people in Pagosa who sometimes needed to choose between eating and heating. After much research, we organized a woodbank ministry to cut and split firewood that would be available to anyone in Pagosa who needed it.
How do we get firewood or does it magically appear?
We do have relationships with some community businesses who donate wood to us. But typically, church and community members who have downed trees on their property call the church office to let us know they want to donate their wood. We organize work days where we go to the property, cut rounds, and transport the rounds 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. Someone from the woodbank ministry will then contact them to find out how much they need and if/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 to have people to help load or unload. We’ll also make arrangements to deliver.
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, people who can help carry and stack the split wood, people to help supervise the youth, and people who are willing to 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 to 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 in one piece. 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 who want to learn can ask for coaching from our experts. Youth who are interested in learning how to use a chainsaw must have permission from a parent 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 members of YouthServe or other youth participants at each work day, 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 that they must be with at all times. Youth who leave their safety buddy will be asked to sit at the food table for 10 minutes or until they want to return to their safety buddy. All other youth younger than 18 will be assigned an adult safety buddy that will check in with them periodically.
Cutting firewood makes me hungry and thirsty. Do you provide food and drinks?
St. Patrick’s provides food at each work day, 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 work day. We also encourage people to bring water bottles.
Do I need any special equipment to participate in a work day?
If you didn’t sign up to bring a chainsaw or truck/trailer, we simply ask that you bring work gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, a water bottle, and please wear closed toe shoes. You may also want to bring a camp chair for breaks.