ANDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — An Anderson County nonprofit is working to make sure people can stay warm during the colder seasons and are distributing firewood for people to burn as the temperatures drop.
The Anderson County Community Action Commission said on social media it partnered with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture to start a firewood bank program. It said it had an immediate supply of firewood to be given to people across the county.
The commission said around a quarter of its clients use wood-burning appliances as their main source of heat.
"When I'm looking at the residents of Anderson County, you know we hit a lot of the rural areas. They still use the stove or wood-burning fireplaces. So, looking at that on the average of what we would serve, I would say a good 25% or 30% of our clients do still use the wood as the main heat source." said Tammy Crowe, the commission's executive director..
People who need firewood can stop by the commission's main office at 149 North Main Street in Clinton. They are eligible for firewood deliveries if they use wood as their main source of heat and are a client of the commission. To become a client, they need to have photo ID for all members of their household, as well as social security numbers, dates of birth and proof of income, or a lack of income.
Anyone who signs up for firewood deliveries must be home when it is delivered. The commission said it is acting as a liaison between UT and its clients.
The university firewood bank is an effort by UT Extension, the UT Forest Resources REC and volunteers from the community. Students from the UT Forestry Club also help with the firewood bank.
In March, the university said it was starting a firewood bank and was aiming to start distributing firewood in the fall.