December Change for Good: Jackson County Fuel Committee
If you’ve lived through even one Rogue Valley winter, you know the cold settles in quickly. The frosty mornings, the long dark evenings, the kind of chill that lingers no matter how many layers you put on - winter can be tough. And while many of us can manage with the help of heaters, woodstoves, and warm homes, thousands of families in our community struggle to access the heat they need to stay safe and comfortable. That’s where the Jackson County Fuel Committee (JCFC) comes in!
Fueling Warmth Since 1978
JCFC started as a volunteer-led effort by forestry workers, mill workers, teachers, students, clergy, and everyday community members who realized something wasn’t adding up: people were cold, yet wood and energy resources were abundant.
Their mission hasn’t changed: make sure low-income families have access to heat, whether that’s emergency firewood, help preventing utility shutoffs, or weatherization support to keep homes warmer and energy bills lower.
A Community Effort With Serious Momentum
This year, JCFC entered the winter season with an impressive surge of support from across the Rogue Valley.
• Local students stepped up.
Thirty teens from Academia Latina rolled into a Wednesday woodcut ready to learn, sweat, and haul. They cut and stacked a full cord of firewood for JCFC members who couldn’t physically manage the work. As one JCFC team member said, these kids “knew what they were doing," and they taught each other along the way.
• A new structure took shape thanks to skilled hands.
The Timber Framers Guild designed and built a gorgeous new timber-frame structure for the JCFC woodlot, crafted by more than 100 people ranging in age from 13 to 73. Finished in September, the structure will help streamline firewood distribution so more families can get what they need, faster.
• Chainsaw pros lent their skills.
Pacific Oasis, one of the nation’s largest wildland firefighting companies, spent a full day at the woodlot tackling massive logs as part of their chainsaw certification class. They walked away with practical experience and JCFC walked away with a lot more firewood ready for delivery.
• Tree services delivered big.
Several local tree services sent truckloads of wood to the woodlot, including one forestry worker who spent months preparing six whole cords of cured and split firewood. That donation alone will help carry JCFC through December.
All this support meant JCFC rolled into the first cold snap with stocked woodpiles, new infrastructure, and enough volunteers to deliver firewood to more than a dozen households right out of the gate.
A Rough Winter Ahead And Why JCFC Matters
JCFC organizers expect this winter to be especially hard for low-income households. Heating costs are rising, and the cold is coming on fast.
As JCFC Benefits Coordinator Reyna O’Grady put it, “We have every reason to believe this is going to be a uniquely rough winter for people… and we need all hands on deck.”
At the Co-op, this is where our Change for Good program shines. Every time you round up at the register in December, you’re helping keep someone warm. You’re helping a family avoid a shutoff. You’re helping a senior heat their home safely. You’re supporting the volunteers who spend their weekends cutting, splitting, delivering, and advocating - rain, shine, or snow.
How You Can Help Warm a Home
• Round up at the register all month long. Every penny goes directly to JCFC’s fuel assistance efforts.
• Spread the word - share their work with a friend, co-worker, or neighbor.
• Volunteer or get involved by calling JCFC at 541-488-2905. (Ask for Reyna - they’ll point you in the right direction.)
Winter is coming on strong; let’s help make sure no one faces the cold alone.
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