March 8, 2007

State Prison Inmates Warm Homes, Hearts with Wood

Inmates at the Montana State Prison helped to brighten the lives of several low-income families recently as part of Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s Warm Homes Warm Hearts program.

The prisoners cut up and loaded 44 cords of free wood for delivery to households on the Northern Cheyenne, Rocky Boy’s, Blackfeet, and Fort Peck Indian reservations and in Kalispell, Butte, and Lewistown. The wood was downfall surrounding the prison that needed to be removed before it became a fire hazard.

The wood was delivered using trucks from the Food Commodity Program at the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) and personnel from tribal and local agencies that operate the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), which is administered by DPHHS.

“As we looked at the downfall problem, we saw an opportunity,” said Mike Ferriter, director of the Department of Corrections. “Governor Schweitzer has been encouraging state agencies to do all they can to make sure that Montanans stay warm during the winter, and we saw a chance to do our part.”  

Joan Miles, DPHHS director, said she was pleased that the two agencies were able to work together on the project.

“Trucks and personnel from our commodity program have worked on similar programs in the past, including delivering supplies during floods and fire seasons,” she added. “They are just troopers when it comes to pitching in.”

Gov. Schweitzer initiated the Warm Homes Warm Hearts program in 2005 to help address the impacts of high energy costs on Montana families.

Page last updated: 03/08/2007