Orange City Council's "Wood-bank" initiative has returned in time for winter.
Orange residents who are pension or concession card holders are eligible to have half a cubic metre of wood delivered to their home for free, in a bid to ease the cost of keeping warm this coming season.
Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said eligible residents could apply for the free delivery of fire wood through FoodCare Orange at 142 March Street.
"Families in need in Orange are going to FoodCare, and there they'll get the groceries they'll need to help them through a tough patch. Now they'll also be able to get a delivery of firewood,' Cr Kidd said.
"Deliveries of the first few loads of wood have already begun across the city."
Residents will need to show their pension or concession card to FoodCare staff to apply for the load.
Orange deputy mayor Glenn Taylor said the initiative had been popular in previous years and he was pleased to see it continue in 2021.
"It's clear that there are families in Orange dong it tough especially after the events of 2020, and at this time of year a load of firewood could make all the difference," Cr Glenn Taylor said.
"I have spoken to people who have directly benefited from this initiative and it has made a genuine difference to their well-being.
"This s exactly the kind of program Council should be putting in place to help those in need.
"The quality of the firewood is an important factor in this program. We've looked into it and the best way forward was to bring commercial wood suppliers on board. When a family asks for firewood at the FoodCare Orange office, staff will take their details and arrange for a load of wood to be delivered."
Orange City Council put the wood-bank proposal out to tender and reached an agreement with one local commercial supplier to make deliveries.
The program aims to deliver about 100 loads of firewood, at a cost of about $100 per load, a total of about $10,000.
FoodCare is open Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 10.30am – 1pm and Thursday afternoon 4.30pm – 6pm.
