By the Pine Strawberry Fuel Reduction, A Nonprofit Organization - Introduction by the National Forest Foundation

Volunteerism is a distinctive form of human cooperation. It is how many outdoor projects, like trail maintenance and restoration, get done. It takes a lot of planning, funding, and physical labor to sustain our National Forests and trails. The reality is that National Forests have never had enough employees, money, or supplies to ensure that everything is maintained. The trail you use in your area has likely been maintained for decades by volunteers who donate their time and energy so people they will never meet might be able to enjoy being outside in nature. Volunteer-based partner organizations, like Pine Strawberry Fuels Reduction, have played a critical role in maintaining our nation's public land, and volunteers are needed now more than ever.

A Nationwide Lack of Volunteers

So, where did all the volunteers go? Nonprofits across the country are struggling to meet their mission statements due to a lack of volunteers. The short answer is: the COVID pandemic occurred. We are all tired of everything being blamed on COVID, but the fact remains it has affected every aspect of our lives and has deeply affected nonprofit organizations. During the pandemic, there was a fundamental shift in the demographics of small communities like Pine and Strawberry, AZ. In the great reshuffle, our mountain community went from primarily owner-occupied or vacation homes to short-term vacation rentals, some of which are owned by corporations.

Here is the challenge: Owner-occupied homeowners are invested in the community and the health of the forest around them. Often, homes are an accumulation of familial wealth. It is what families own that is of the greatest value; hence, the investment in the area around them. No one wants to see their home burn to the ground. Therefore, we have always seen owners involved in the community and volunteer for organizations such as the Pine Strawberry Fuel Reduction. Corporations or individual owners that are simply in it for a revenue stream have insurance to cover their losses. They don't have the same connection to the place or the land.

Bringing the Need Home

Of all the agencies and organizations that respond to or deal with wildfire, only Pine Strawberry Fuels Reduction focuses on reducing the risk of a disastrous wildfire in Pine and Strawberry, AZ and along the Mogollon Rim. We teach homeowners about vegetation management, which includes reducing ladder fuels that would allow a wildfire to reach the canopy of our forest. It does not mean clear-cutting. We provide a free community brush pit with expanded hours during the work week for contractors. We offer a Neighbor-Helping-Neighbor Program for those who struggle physically or financially to maintain their property. We work with the U.S. Forest Service, the largest landowner in our county, on large landscape-scale projects to reduce the risk of damaging wildfires. We coordinate with multiple partners and organizations to manage these ongoing fuel reduction and forest restoration projects. We are also active in building and maintaining trails and other projects that bring visibility and investment within our communities. We understand that reducing the risk of a catastrophic wildfire is a multifaceted problem requiring a multi-pronged solution, including maintaining trails as a conduit for fire professionals during active wildfire and as potential fire breaks. Today, only seven Pine Strawberry Fuels Reductions volunteers consistently help us manage all of these projects and programs.

Yet, it is only with the help of volunteers that we achieve our mission, and volunteers are presently scarce for a multitude of reasons. The worthiness of the cause is not in question. Many nonprofit organizations face a shortage of volunteers. The absence of volunteers means no programs, no projects, and no progress. Nonprofit organizations are the glue that keeps communities working and fill the gaps between what the government and for-profit companies provide — and they will ultimately disappear without volunteers. We feed the hungry, meet the needs of the homeless, rescue animals, provide educational events, and bring music to those who wouldn't otherwise have this opportunity. Pine Strawberry Fuel Reduction works to create a healthy watershed, improve the environment for wildlife, and protect our communities from wildfire, both within the community and from the forest around us.

We need help!

Our 12th annual Fire on the Rim Mountain Bike Race was held on September 17. The race provides the bulk of the funding for our numerous trail projects. We used to have 150 volunteers participating in this event. Knowing the crisis of volunteers facing the nonprofit community, we somehow managed to run the event with 80% fewer volunteers, just 30 people! Each volunteer deserves an award, a medal of valor for hanging in there because so much is asked of them. Many of our previous volunteers sold their homes and moved away. Some did not survive the pandemic, and we grieve their loss. We need help!

If you are new to your community and looking to get involved - here is your opportunity. Please invest in the area where you live, even if you are a vacation homeowner. Nonprofits are desperate to keep providing the many services that folks have come to rely on, and only you can help these organizations continue what they enjoy.

Pine and Strawberry, AZ is just a short drive from Phoenix, Flagstaff and Prescott! Volunteer opportunities abound! If you live or vacation in the area, we can provide a fun and meaningful experience. Bring your family and friends! And your coworkers! Learn more at www.psfuelreduction.org or call 602-842-1955. We will truly appreciate your time and talents, and you will be well-rewarded with the gift of the outdoors.

The National Forest Foundation is grateful for our partnership with the Pine Strawberry Fuels Reduction organization – we know that nothing can replace the local, long-standing knowledge of these community-based organizations, and the deep connections they have with local landscapes. It is now OUR time to connect, to help, to engage, and importantly to give back and appreciate the millions of acres of beauty these Forests offer to you.

Cover photo by the U.S. Forest Service.

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Bringing people together has always been a superpower of the NFF. But we can’t do it without our supporters, and that includes you. Please consider making an unrestricted gift today so we can provide the absolute best collaborative services tomorrow. Simply click here. We – and all our partners – thank you!