WNC FireWood Inc.

12/27/2025

Merry Christmas! On behalf of the backs of many volunteers and recipients of the firewood ministry, we extend our gratitude to Steve Pagano for securing a firewood conveyor, and Bill Ester for helping him assemble and test it.

12/16/2025

The following are samples of households that benefited last year from the WNC FireWood Ministry.

- Two in-home seniors. Fixed income with around $18,000 annually, combined with their social security

- Senior. A widow who is raising her grandchild (age 16) only receives social security with a monthly income of around $1400 total. Grandchild has had to undergo several surgeries due to a heart complication

- Late 50s - has a son who is working and a grandchild in the home. Works full-time but struggles to make ends meet in winter due to the rising cost of electricity at Haywood EMC, so she uses wood to decrease the electric bill.

- Early 40s. Single mom of 2 children. Works full-time but struggles in winter when cost rises for heat. Makes about $35,000 a year for a household of 3

-Mid-60s. Single household. Makes about $1400 per month and only gets 63 dollars in social security. Doesn’t drive. Uses us once a year to help with wood to help get through winter. Says at times she has to choose which bills to pay (and not pay) to be able to stay warm in the winter

- Widow, early 60s. Lost her husband unexpectedly and cut her household income in half. Helps watch grandchildren to help daughter. Has struggled with bills since the loss of her husband. Gets $1900 monthly for disability.

- Senior early 60s. Lives alone. Disabled after a major stroke that effected his body and speech. On disability and makes $840 per month. Struggles all year with keeping up with bills and struggles to maintain heat in home every winter. Uses propane and wood to heat home. He physically takes propane tanks to store to get them filled due to not being able to afford propane delivery and uses wood to offset the cost of heating.

- Single father of 2 teenagers. Major damage to home during hurricane. Can’t afford electric heat and supplements with wood heat to offset cost. Works full time but still struggles to pay bills and afford heat for winter.

- Mid-60s Man is on disability and only makes $735 per month. Budgets as much as possible but struggles in winter with larger heat/expenses. Damage to trailer in Hurricane with no insurance to help.

- Mother of 4 children. Disabled and only one car that husband uses for work. She is home alone with kids most days without transportation. Annual combined income is around $20,000. Struggles in winter with increased cost

- Early 40s, disabled after a major stroke. Lives alone and has struggled after stroke with mobility. Doesn’t have transportation and has been applying for disability which has not happened yet. Family supports as much as possible, but can’t afford heat and uses wood to reduce the heating costs of the home.

Take a moment between now and the New Year to prayerfully consider how you can help us provide more free firewood to those who need it the most.
Volunteering
Prayer
Encouraging others to support
Personal gift.

[email protected]" rel="ugc" target="_blank">[email protected]

July 2025

🚧 Under Construction One Ministry to provide our neighbors in need with FREE home heating Firewood.

12/15/2025

WNC FireWood won 2nd Place in the 2025 Brevard, NC Christmas Parade. Thank you to the volunteers who dreamed and constructed the float, which depicted the book, "The Penguin Who Hated the Cold," to complement the Storybook Christmas Theme.

12/15/2025

Distribution Center Hours
The Distribution Center will be open:

https://ministry.wncfirewood.org/pickup/

Saturday, December 20, 9:00 am to 11:00 am.
Saturday, December 27, CLOSED.

New open hours will be posted on the website, link above, as soon as they’re available.

Please only rely on the hours posted on the above web page (see the link above) to determine if the Distribution Center is open. Please do not assume it will be open unless stated on our website.

LOCATION
The Distribution Center is in First UMC’s Caldwell Street parking lot, behind the restaurant at Caldwell and Whitmire. Enter via Caldwell Street for convenience; Whitmire Street entrances may be used.

Distribution Center Hours The Distribution Center will be open: Saturday, December 20, 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Saturday, December 27, CLOSED

12/15/2025

2026 Funding Status, WNC FireWood Inc.
www.nonprofit.wncfirewood.org

https://nonprofit.wncfirewood.org/donate/

The top priority item for our Capital Productivity Improvement Plan is the purchase of a Box-Wedge Splitter, budgeted for $21,700. We are over one-third of the way to being able to purchase this much-needed safety and productivity enhancement — about 42% of the way!

We are extremely grateful for two recent local church foundation grants, $6,000 and $1,000, and gifts from several individuals totaling $2,050. Thank You on behalf of all those who benefit and volunteer for this vital ministry.

We have reached a total of $9,050 in support of a commercial firewood splitter. The total remaining is $12,650.

To achieve our goal, we need the following gifts:

12/08/2025

🔥 Update on Our Capital Improvement Efforts 🔥
WNC FireWood Ministry

Since the end of August, our team has invested many hours preparing and submitting grant applications to five different foundations. Our goal is simple but urgent: to secure the commercial-grade equipment needed to dramatically increase our firewood productivity—so we can better serve neighbors who rely on wood as their primary source of heat.

Even though our ministry meets one of the most basic life needs—warmth—the competition among nonprofits is incredibly strong this year. Many organizations across Western North Carolina are facing overwhelming demand, and so far our requests haven’t risen high enough on the priority lists for funding.

But we are not discouraged.
We still have three grant applications pending, (one of which is for technology website updating) and we remain hopeful.

This ministry has always been built on faith, volunteer hands, and the kindness of people who believe in caring for their neighbors. So we’re asking you:

🙏 Please keep this vital ministry in your thoughts and prayers.
Every gift, every grant, every prayer, and every kind thought makes a real difference.

Together, we can expand our ability to deliver free firewood, keep more homes warm, and lighten the load on our hardworking volunteers.

Thank you for standing with WNC FireWood. ❤️🔥

https://nonprofit.wncfirewood.org/donate/

12/07/2025

A huge shout-out to our amazing volunteers who helped bring “The Penguin Who Hated the Cold” to life in yesterday’s 2025 Brevard Christmas Parade!

Our storybook-themed float—complete with a very confused penguin (not Brenda, she was the inspiration) discovering the warmth of community—earned 2nd place! 🥈📖

None of this would’ve been possible without the hands, hearts, and hard work of our volunteers. You hauled, built, painted, decorated, waved, smiled… and reminded Brevard that warmth is something we share. Thank you sponsors and partners of this ministry sharing the warmth. Brevard 1st UMC, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Stewards of Amazing Grace, Bartlett Tree Experts, Pisgah Land Solutions, Sharing House, Transylvania County, Department of Social Services, Salvation Army, and the Bread of Lilfe. 

Thank you all for helping spread the mission of WNC FireWood in such a joyful way. ❤️🔥

12/06/2025

Help Us Deliver Warmth this Winter! A $22,000 Goal for a New Wood Splitter to Quadruple Productivity

Dear Friend of WNC FireWood,

As the chill of winter deepens in Western North Carolina, many of our neighbors face a difficult choice between heating their homes and affording other necessities. WNC FireWood has been a beacon of hope, providing essential firewood to families in need for years.

This year, we have a critical, high-priority goal: to raise $22,000 specifically for a commercial-grade wood splitter.

Our current equipment is struggling to keep up with the overwhelming demand. A commercial splitter is faster, safer, and far more efficient, enabling our dedicated volunteers to process significantly more wood and reach every family waiting for warmth.

This is not just a piece of machinery; it is a force multiplier for compassion.

Your donation will directly fund this vital piece of equipment.
We need to reach our $22,000 target by December 31st. With your help, we can make sure that no family in our community goes cold this winter.

$50 processes enough wood for several households.

$250 brings us closer to our equipment goal.

$1,000 helps purchase a critical component of the new splitter.

Please consider making a generous, tax-deductible year-end gift today. Every dollar moves us closer to the warmth our neighbors deserve.

You can donate securely online or mail your contribution to our address.

Thank you for your continued support and for making a tangible difference in our community.

Warmly,
The Team at WNC FireWood
[email protected]

Donate Online Here https://nonprofit.wncfirewood.org/donate/

Board of Directors (Jim Whitcomb, Chair; Mark Bailey, Vice-Chair; Steve Johnston, Treasurer/Secretary, and Steve Pagano)
325 N. Broad St.
BREVARD, NC 28712
[email protected]

WNC FireWood Inc. is a 501(c)(3) fully tax-deductible nonprofit organization.

Support the Mission Our mission is to provide our neighbors in need with FREE home heating firewood.