The construction of roads and pad-sites often leaves Cabot with an excess amount of timber and wood. Rather than simply disposing of this wood, Cabot has partnered with The Wyoming County Correctional Facility to have this timber turn into usable firewood. Some of this firewood will be donated to Boy & Girl Scout Troops (for Summer Camp), to local fire houses (for ox roasts and clam bakes) and to Riverside Park (for the outdoor fire along the skating rink). The rest of the wood will be sold at market value and all profit is used to help children who are not receiving child support payments and to pay off overdue court fees.
Janice Lobdell, Landman for Cabot explains, “It’s nice to see that this timber is going to have a beneficial use around the community.”
The timber will be split by three groups at the Correctional Facility – juveniles, prisoners and fathers who are presently unemployed and unable to make child support payments. The Wyoming Correctional Facility will then sell the firewood at average market value, generating $175 for every cord sold.
The Wyoming Correctional Facility depends on organizations like Cabot to maintain its Wood Yard program. Because the wood is sold at a price which just covers costs, the program cannot sustain itself without donated timber. With the donated lumber from Cabot, the Wyoming Correctional Facility will be able to afford to buy new saws and equipment to sustain the program.
Russell D. Shurtleff, President Judge for the Court of Common Pleas for Wyoming and Sullivan counties comments, “Our Wood Yard Project will continue to thrive and assist crime victims in being compensated, along with providing opportunities to children through child support payments that would not otherwise be made.” Additionally, those whom the wood is donated to no longer have to budget their funds for providing firewood, thanks to the Wood Yard Project. Shurtleff continues, “The court system is very grateful to Cabot for taking the lead in assisting this program.”
