For the 44th consecutive year, the Forks Lions Club teamed up with the Quincy Men’s Service Club for their long-standing “Firewood for Food” exchange — a partnership that continues to strengthen the bond between the two communities, nearly 250 miles apart.
This year’s exchange once again proved a success. Two log truck loads of firewood were delivered from Forks to Quincy, thanks to the generous hauling efforts of drivers Nick Worley and Barry Swanson. Once in Quincy, the wood is prepared as firewood for those in need, and in return, the Quincy club and local farmers provide fresh produce for Forks area families.
“We’re proud of how this project continues to bring people together after all these years,” said a Forks Lions representative. “It’s a true example of neighbors helping neighbors, even across the mountains.”
The Forks Lions expressed appreciation to M&R and Interfor Pacific for donating the loads of wood — as they have done for many of the 44 years of this tradition — and to the local logging crews who make it all possible. Special thanks were also extended to Dilley and Solomon Logging and Forks Fiber, whose crews helped cut, organize, and load the trucks this year.
The Forks Lions didn’t come home empty-handed. They returned from Quincy with a generous haul of fresh farm produce, which was donated to the Forks Community Food Bank, benefiting families in Forks, Clallam Bay, and surrounding areas. This year’s bounty included:
7,000 pounds of potatoes
3,600 pounds of apples
2,000 pounds of onions
200 pounds of pinto and soup beans
1,500 pounds of carrots
The Lions also extended gratitude to Jerry’s Rentals, Sales, and Services for donating chains, mix, bar oil, files, and hearing protection year after year, and to the Quincy Moose Lodge for hosting the Forks crew during their stay.
“Our club members, along with their families and friends, give up their weekend every year to make this happen,” organizers shared. “It’s hard work, but it’s meaningful work — and it makes a real difference.”
With the 44th “Firewood for Food” exchange now complete, the Forks Lions Club looks ahead to continuing this enduring partnership and the spirit of generosity that has fueled it for more than four decades.
