CHELSEA -- Five cords of free firewood is up for grabs.

But first you have to prove you're eligible.

A Chelsea resident is giving away the wood and town officials will select families based on the General Assistance federal guidelines, deputy town manager Carol Belanger said.

"People interested can contact the town to see if they're eligible and then we'll put their names in a hat and draw two or three to give the wood to," Belanger said Wednesday. "We thought if we did something like this, it would give them a fair opportunity."

Depending on the amount of people in a household, federal guidelines for General Assistance aid is restricted to those with monthly income of $465 for one person in a household to $1,087 for six people.

The donor -- who wants to remain anonymous -- turned to the town for help in finding families that needed assistance with heating their home this winter.

He said the firewood, mostly hardwood, has to be split. There's also some pine cut into 18-inch logs that must be split.

A family might have friends who will help them split the wood, or if it's an elderly couple, possibly someone with a mechanical splitter would step forward and then help deliver the cords. The donor said he is willing to help, but has an injury.

Interim Town Manager Bob Drisko said only Chelsea residents should call the Town Office at 582-4802 to find out if they are eligible.

"I know it's going to get real busy the way things are going . . . I think the handwriting is on the wall with fuel prices and everything," Drisko said.

"I was invited to a meeting this afternoon in Augusta for area communities to try and get together and pool resources for heating fuel assistance," he said. "We need to work together and come up with ways to help each other."

Kennebec County communities have been invited to join a countywide fundraising push to help people pay for heating oil this winter. Heat Helpers is a fundraiser organized by the United Way of Kennebec Valley and Goodwill Industries.

Augusta Mayor Roger Katz said the initiative is a good example of individual communities' aid efforts.

"We want to raise money for the most needy for fuel and firewood so communities can pool together or do it on their own," Katz said. "The result is what matters."

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, Ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com