Volunteer network providing free firewood

Wood banks are volunteer-led organizations that provide free firewood to households struggling with heating costs. The concept is growing more common — there are 219 of them in the US as of 2025, up from just 65 in 2016. I came across the concept and immediately started wondering why there weren't more — and specifically, why New York State didn't have a single one (I've since found one).

What limits the traditional wood bank model is the need for centralized coordination. Local Axe takes a distributed approach instead: volunteers process firewood at their own homes and on their own schedules. Recipients submit requests through the platform and connect with nearby volunteers who have firewood available.

This model complements existing wood banks rather than replacing them — a registered wood bank is just another volunteer location on the platform. And it lowers the barrier to participation for individuals like me, who want to help but don't want to run an organization.