People living in Porirua just north of Wellington are grateful for free firewood prepared by offenders to keep them warm during the winter months.
All year round offenders have been delivering the wood, sometimes up to 12 trailer loads a day, to those in need in the community. The recipients are mainly the elderly, the infirm, and those who cannot afford to buy fuel themselves.
Community Work Supervisor Terri Worden says as well as serving individuals in need, the community also benefits because much of the timber was diverted from the local landfill.
"We had seen wood from commercial delivery pallets taking up space at the tip, and we thought it could go to better use as firewood for local residents who did not have the resources to get their own. '
"We approached Bunnings, a local home improvement retailer who were paying thousands of dollars a year to dump their used wooden delivery pallets at the tip. In exchange for us taking the wood off their hands, they agreed to provide us with the tools we would need to get the project happening. Everyone wins."
Got a story for Community Works or want to request the print edition?
Email commdesk@corrections.govt.nz or phone (04) 460 3365.
Community Works is published quarterly by the Department of Corrections. Contact details for Community Probation & Psychological Services can be found here or by looking under C for Corrections in the Government listings of the Telecom White Pages.
ISSN 1178-1327