Wood Cutters—Brenda Washington (black coat), Walt Green (behind Washington), Larry Prince (center) and Steve Jones work together to split wood at Sparta United Methodist Church. The church helps furnish wood for the needy as an outreach program.

Church supplies firewood to needy

In October 1997, about eight years after Alleghany County felt the devastating affects of Hurricane Hugo which left a number of downed trees in the area, several local residents decided to make a positive out of a negative by putting the wood to good use.

Sparta United Methodist Church members Sharon and Leland Simons, Pete Peterson and Susan Reinhardt recognized the excess of downed trees and saw that as an opportunity to provide free firewood to those in need. Joined by Boyd Farmer and other church members, a wood ministry was formed. Participants in the wood ministry help cut, split and haul wood to those who could not otherwise afford to purchase wood or heating oil.

Reinhardt offered the idea was addressed during a mission committee meeting during which the church members typically address local, regional and worldwide needs. She serves as chair of the church's mission committee.

While the initial mission of the project was to serve the people of Alleghany County, Reinhardt stated, "The purpose of the wood cutting project was to fill the need of heating and sometimes cooking. The need was sometimes due to cost, availability of wood to cut, or limited ability of persons to gather wood themselves."

The Simons got involved because "nobody should be cold in the wintertime," Mr. Simons said.

 

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