MN Firewood Bank

Origin Story:

Walking through the Prospect Park neighborhood of St. Paul in mid August 2024, Phil Manz saw a pile of firewood marked “free.” When Lily Lustig, the fiancée of the owner heard  the firewood would be distributed to two permanent supportive tiny house communities designed to address long term homelessness in the east metro (www.settled.org) she said, “Oh there is a lot more in the backyard, would you like that wood?”  Having already supplied Roberta Benson, a friend in northeast Minneapolis with firewood for her store, Phil wondered if other folks enjoy sharing wood with their neighbors.  Phil discovered that firewood banks do exist, primarily on the east coast and northwest with the closest being in Burnett County in northwestern Wisconsin.   With technical assistance and potential start up funding available through the Alliance for Green Heat, the Minnesota Firewood Bank was born to see if more people could be served.

If you are interested in helping please contact Phil Manz at 612 443 7276 or philmanz07@msn.com.