From Forest to Family Hearth

As NEFF carries out its sustainable harvest at Thurston Memorial Forest in Knox and Montville, Maine, the work has already created an opportunity to give back: turning some of the felled timber into lifesaving heat for neighboring families by donating it to a wood bank.

A wood bank functions much like a food bank for home heat. Donated logs and volunteers’ time come together to provide free firewood to households that need help staying warm through the colder months.

Working with the Waldo County Woodshed in nearby Searsmont, which distributes firewood in quarter-cord increments to households that need help heating their homes, NEFF donated an estimated 13 cords of firewood logs, enough to help as many as 52 families. The donation site was less than a 20-minute drive from the forest itself, making this an example of local wood serving local needs.

The effort was led by NEFF Staff Forester Mike Redante, along with Prentiss & Carlisle, the forest management company that has been conducting the harvest at Thurston Memorial Forest and helped arrange the donation.

Logs harvested from NEFF’s Thurston Memorial Forest in Knox and Montville were delivered to the Waldo County Woodshed in Searsmont, where volunteers processed them into firewood for local families in need. Photo by Bob MacGregor.

“For us at NEFF, it’s important to be a supportive member of the communities where we work,” said Redante. “Donating the wood to the Waldo County Woodshed is a way to help local families heat their homes. The logistics came together smoothly, thanks to Prentiss & Carlisle as well as Bob and his team, and it was a great experience partnering with them.”

A Simple Gift with a Big Impact

For Bob MacGregor, co-founder and president of the Waldo County Woodshed, the donation came as a pleasant surprise.

“The donation idea was initiated by Mike at NEFF,” said MacGregor. “He contacted us out of the blue, saying they would like to donate some wood from a local harvest when it took place. He arranged the delivery; all I had to do was be there to show the driver where to unload. It was as easy as it gets!”

As explained above, NEFF’s 13-cord donation could, in theory, help as many as 52 families — though some families receive wood twice per month, depending on need. In today’s market, that quantity of firewood could be worth as much as $5,000.

Meeting a Growing Need

MacGregor co-founded the Waldo County Woodshed after a study identified the county as a place where a wood bank could make a major difference, given local income levels, forest resources, and the number of homes heated with wood.

“One of the most telling things is how much need is out there for this sort of assistance,” said MacGregor. “Just as you see with soup kitchens and food pantries, a lot of people can really use the help we offer. We don’t ask for proof of income or make judgments about who’s ‘worthy.’ Our goal is simply to make sure people don’t go cold.”

The Woodshed operates eight distribution sites across Waldo and Knox Counties and surrounding communities, all staffed by volunteers. During the heating season, 15-20 volunteers often gather on Saturday mornings to split and load wood, keeping up with demand. The organization purchases most of its logs from local loggers to support Maine’s working forest economy, while also accepting donations from groups like NEFF and local arborists.

Turning Stewardship Into Service

For NEFF, this collaboration demonstrates how Exemplary Forestry — its model for sustainable, science-based forest management — can extend benefits beyond the forest itself. By finding productive, community-minded uses for low-grade timber, NEFF reduces waste, keeps forests healthy, and strengthens local forests’ resilience.

“This kind of partnership is a perfect example of how responsible forest stewardship goes beyond preservation,” said NEFF Executive Director Ryan Owens. “By working with the Waldo County Woodshed, we’re showing that active management — done right — can keep forests healthy, provide local materials, and meet community needs all at once.”

To learn more about the Waldo County Woodshed or get involved, visit waldocountywoodshed.org.