Community Work Supervisor Ben Gallogly of the community work centre in Thames came up with the idea of providing firewood from the timber mill in Thames, which gives untreated kiln dry offcuts away for free.
“The Thames/Coromandel area is huge,” says Service Manager Annette Busby. “There are quite a few old people who can’t afford firewood but luckily we also have many industries who like to do their bit to help.”
CPPS approached organisations such as the RSA and Hauraki Maori Trust Board who provided names of recipients.
Supervisor Buffon Edwards has chainsaw qualifications so she was able to chop the wood at the timber mill. In June at least 15 people could keep warm with the firewood delivered by community work teams, with more deliveries to follow.
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ISSN 1178-1327