FCS Partners with New Freeport Wood Bank

The Freeport Wood Bank is a new lifeline for residents who rely on wood heat to stay warm but struggle to afford enough cords for the winter. In partnership with Freeport Community Services (FCS), the organization is connecting with individuals and families in need of heating assistance.

Tony DiMarco, who recently retired, launched the initiative alongside his former colleague Jordanna Feely, both Freeport residents, as a way to give back. “I had a lot of firewood and wanted to do something helpful with it,” DiMarco explained. “I started working with the Midcoast and Cumberland wood banks, and one thing led to another.”

The Freeport Wood Bank will be a key contributor to FCS’s Carol Kaplan Fuel Fund, offering a direct source of wood for those in need.

“We’re thrilled to have this new resource available to support our neighbors,” said Amy Liechty, FCS Director of Programs.

In addition to creating the Freeport Wood Bank, DiMarco and Feely established a nonprofit 501c3 called Maine Wood Banks, designed to help other communities start wood banks. Feely, leveraging her corporate finance expertise, set up the nonprofit framework.

“It’s been incredibly fulfilling,” Feely shared.

The network currently includes the Midcoast and Freeport wood banks, providing fiscal sponsorship, insurance, and startup guidance to new wood banks across Maine.

“We hope to use the network to make it easier for other communities to get started,” DiMarco said.

Locally, the Freeport Wood Bank is partnering with the Town of Freeport to secure a parcel of land at the recycling facility for operating the wood bank. The group is seeking volunteers to help cut, split, and stack wood for future distribution.

“Being at the recycling center will give us great visibility,” DiMarco said. “It’s a busy spot, especially on Saturday mornings.”

In just its first season, the Freeport Wood Bank has already made five deliveries of wood.

“Our goal is to help as many people as we can each winter,” DiMarco said.

To learn more or get involved, visit freeportwoodbank.org.