Volunteers keep community warm

Over the past 12 years, members of the Superior Community Church and local volunteers have labored to give back. Their work consists of sawing, cutting and stacking firewood.

On the field outside the Superior Community Church, a large firewood pile sits under a shelter. Tri Con, a timber company in St. Regis, donates the dry red fur and lurch wood.

Mike Lapinski, a Community Church member and volunteer, said he can not say enough about Tri Con’s contribution, especially with mills shutting down around the country.

“Tri Con has always given us a load of wood,” Lapinski, who worked for Tri Con, said. “They know it’s for the people.”

This year, Tri Con brought over a 12-cord load. With the firewood, volunteers worked together for days to cut it all down and organize it under the shelter. The firewood is meant for those in need, who are unable to go out and get firewood.

The volunteer work started 12 years ago when kids from Federal Way, Wash. came over and helped with the firewood. The Federal Way kids came over representing their church and worked directly with the Community Church.

Now the Federal Way help is reaching out to Trout Creek. This fall is the first time the Community Church is on its own with the firewood.

Despite not having the Federal Way help, the local volunteers are not planning to slow down.

With the cold weather setting in, many people around the Superior area are in need of firewood.

At the Community Church, people who need help with firewood put their names on a list. Once the people are helped, their names are crossed off the list.

“We try to get volunteers to get them through the winter,” Lapinski said.

Along with Community Church members and volunteers, those who need community service hours help with the firewood.

Probation officer Tim Lewis said he brings people over to the firewood shelter and their work counts towards community service hours. Lewis said recently he took over a group and they finished a large load of firewood in no time.

“I brought them over there, and the last batch of kids finished it all,” Lewis said.

Anybody can help with the firewood and help those in need. Lewis said a volunteer doesn’t have to be part of the church to help.

Lapinski said the volunteer work has always been worthwhile.

“We can’t supply all, but we can supply some,” Lapinski said. “It takes a little sweat, but I’m fulfilled to do it.”