Buffalo Wood Bank Saves Families $430K in Heating Costs

Roxi Turk's monthly heating bill dropped $130 this winter thanks to a simple Tuesday routine in Buffalo, Wyoming.

Every week, the retiree drives to the Clear Creek Wood Bank where volunteers load her truck with enough firewood to keep her home warm for seven days. Her husband used to cut their wood in the Bighorn National Forest, but he died three years ago, leaving Turk unable to afford $300 cords on her fixed income.

Now her gas heater sits idle while her toy Australian Shepherd, named Chainsaw after her husband's favorite tool, basks in the wood stove's warmth.

Started in 2022 by Wyoming State Forester Kelly Norris and a local logger, the wood bank operates every Tuesday from November through April. Families drive up, get their weekly rack loaded by volunteers, and head home with high quality firewood tested at less than 3% moisture content.

The numbers tell a remarkable story. This season alone, 637 Buffalo families have picked up wood, plus another 166 families from surrounding towns. On the busiest day in January, 55 families showed up in just two hours.

Retired banker Paul Mumm, who oversees operations, calculated that every Tuesday creates a $5,300 economic impact for the community. By season's end, the wood bank will have distributed $100,000 worth of firewood since its launch.

The program focuses on those who need it most: 77.5% of recipients are retirees, 41% are disabled, and 29.5% are veterans. Johnson County has a higher than average senior population, with 28% of residents over 65.

Volunteers make it all possible. Students from local Christian and alternative high schools join faithful adult helpers every Tuesday, stacking racks and loading trucks. This year alone, they've contributed 1,561 hours of labor.

Even the waste gets repurposed. Sawdust from the wood processor goes to gardeners for soil and chicken farms for bedding. Kindling scraps fill returnable bins that help families start their fires.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond keeping homes warm, the wood bank has woven itself into Buffalo's community fabric. For Lisa Driscoll, a board member who moved to town five years ago, Tuesday afternoons offer a perfect way to meet neighbors while making a real difference.

Grants from the Alliance for Green Heat and Wyoming Community Foundation have secured funding through next season. After April 1, volunteers will begin processing logs for the 2026-27 winter, ensuring the cycle continues.

The project has caught national attention too, with the New York Times reaching out as wood banks become lifelines during harsh winters back East. Wyoming's milder season this year makes Buffalo's sustained demand even more notable, proving how essential affordable heating remains for rural communities.

Turk pulls up her truck every Tuesday, volunteers slide the loaded sleds into her bed, and she drives home to unload using car ramps and determination. Her $130 monthly savings adds up, but the warmth goes deeper than economics.