Other Recognition

Mountain Christian Church (MCC) Commends FOSM for Donation Fire Wood Work

August 16, 2023 – Eric Russell, Don Carnicom, Jerry Carroll, Dan Benton, Lou Romero, Sam Beard, MCC member, MCC member, Michael Oliver (MCC member), and Jamey Browning finish splitting and loading the last of wood from approximately 60 trees felled by Forest Service in Nine Mile Picnic Area. Photo credit: Cliff Giles

Lou Romero, co-leader with Sam Beard of our donation-wood project, received the following message from Scott Peterson on October 12:

Thanks Lou, it was a blessing to have all the wood you (FOSM) have brought down from the Crest this year! We had 4-5 people to provide firewood for, and we got everyone taken care of in 2 Saturdays. Previously, that took a lot more time and effort, so I really appreciate all the wood you brought to us this year. I hope all went well on Wednesday.

Scott is the new Director of the Mountain Christian Church Wood Ministry. Ryan Hopkins owns the property where we have been delivering most of the wood the last few years. Mike Oliver (see photo above) is Scott’s Assistant Director and owns the woodlot in the East Mountains where we also delivered 4 loads this summer.

Joe Meade’s dump trailer almost ready for trip to church woodlot with wood from Cienega PA.
Jamey Browning, Sam Beard, Dan Benton, Jerry Carroll, Joe Meade, and Lou Romero after completing 2nd trailer load from Doc Long PA. Missing: Sim Cook and Byron Garner
October 18, 2023 – FOSM delivers additional donation wood to church. Photo credit: Cliff Giles

The Wednesday general projects crew devoted 12 sessions to donation wood work by mid-October 2023, usually using Joe Meade’s pickup and dump trailer to haul the wood to one of the church woodlots. Joe’s son and daughter-in-law frequently helped before moving away a few months ago.

These efforts continued in 2024. On March 8 Scott Peterson wrote:

I wanted each of you to know we were able to meet the needs of several elderly and others in the east mountains this winter with the wood that came from your projects on the crest (Sandia Ranger District) last year.  This was a blessing to many in our community, and the work was much easier for the Mountain Christian wood ministry workers with the wood already in firewood lengths and (being) larger wood than the typical pinion and juniper that is common in this area.  Thanks to each of you for your hard work last year and for partnering with us to bless those in need in our area.

Ten work sessions by the Wednesday crew had been devoted to processing donation wood by mid-May 2024.