Bringing in the Heat

How much wood can a woodchuck chuck? Duke Hospital electrician Larry Clasey should have a pretty good idea.

Each week for the past 11 winters, Clasey has helped cut, split and deliver firewood to needy Durham families as a volunteer with Woodchuck Ministries Inc. The organization provides its services without charge to heat homes identified by Durham's Department of Social Services.

"The people who get the wood, they're always very appreciative," said Clasey, 37, a U.S. Air Force veteran who has worked at Duke for the past 13 years. "For most of them, that's their only reliable source of heat."

The Community Service Center (CSC) and Office of Community Affairs recognized Clasey's efforts last month by naming him the first-ever recipient of the Duke University Employee Community Service Award.

"I'm surprised I was even nominated," said Clasey, who received an award certificate and had a $200 check donated in his name to Woodchuck Ministries. "But I think it's a good idea that the university is recognizing employee efforts."

Duke students' efforts in the Durham community have been recognized for the past 12 years through the Lars Lyon Volunteer Service Award, said CSC director Elaine Madison. The new award is a step toward recognizing the community work performed by many of the university's employees.

"We thought it was about time to honor those efforts," she said. "We're hoping to get the word out about Duke employees, many of them Durham residents, who are working to help their community. And we hope, by extension, to get other people motivated as well."

Employees like Clasey are a personal extension of the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership Initiative, the university's ongoing effort to support constructive alliances with neighborhoods and public schools surrounding campus, said Sam Miglarese, assistant director of the Office of Community Affairs.

"We work so often with our community and school partners," he said. "This gives us an opportunity to focus on our campus and recognize the volunteer work and accomplishments exhibited by our own employees."

Clasey was one of seven employees nominated for the inaugural community service award, Madison said. To be eligible, nominees must be Duke employees and working with an area nonprofit agency. Staff members in the CSC and Community Affairs offices reviewed the candidates and selected the winner.

"While others are nestled down for the night, you will find Larry loading a pickup truck with firewood to carry to someone in need. ... Working in the rain and cold does not hinder him in making his assigned deliveries," wrote university maintenance mechanic Larry Peters in his nominating letter. "He knows that a smiling single mother or a feeble senior adult may be anxiously awaiting the warmth that the firewood will bring.

"Larry knows about the hurts and needs in his community and believes that this ministry tries to ease some of the difficulties families face. ... Larry Clasey is a model of a good neighbor. He is caring and kind. I am proud to nominate him for this award."

The 14 core volunteers with Woodchuck Ministries, which Peters started in 1989, deliver truckloads of wood three times a week from September through March. They also work some Saturdays, especially during the summer and fall, cutting and splitting more than 25 cords with chainsaws and three hydraulic splitters.

Most of the wood is donated by a tree removal service, Peters said. Depending on the reserve of wood and the need of families, the group also may find it necessary to cut and haul its own logs.

"I've always hoped that we could work ourselves out of a job," Peters said. "But I'm afraid next year will be hard for some of the people we serve - especially with fuel prices going up the way they are."

The $200 check from the Office of Community Affairs will help pay for gasoline and upkeep of the organization's truck, he said.

Clasey and Woodchuck Ministries offer an important service to the 25 or so families signed up for bi-weekly firewood assistance each winter, said Doug Williams, a DSS social worker.

"Most of these people are elderly or disabled. For the majority of them, it's their major heating source," he said. "I'd say it's probably lifesaving for some."