To many in the area, Chickamauga native Michael A. McClendon is known as a gentle man with a warm, giving heart.
He gives out free firewood all over the Chattanooga area. Some of the people in need live in local homeless camps, while others don’t have enough money to heat their home through gas or electric means.
“People freeze to death because they don’t have firewood,” said McClendon.
The owner of Pro-Tree Service, he cuts trees for a living, so instead of taking the wood to a landfill, he gives it away to whoever wants to come pick it up.
Staff photo by Katie Ward
Chickamauga native Michael A. McClendon, who now resides in Chattanooga, owns Pro-Tree Service. He is giving away free firewood to those in need.He launched the “Free Firewood.” Facebook page in late September. McClendon uses the page to advertise chopped wood available, and others post to let him know of trees available for cutting. There are already 224 members and responses from people all over the United States – many of whom need the same kind of help in their area.
“I’ve got people in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Oregon asking for my firewood. It’s a program that can go nationwide,” he said.
One local lady told McClendon that she was cold and did not know what to do and that her water would soon be cut off, he said. She told him God had instructed her to call him and ask for free firewood to keep her family warm this winter.
McClendon said half the people who receive his free firewood really need it for warmth, while others need to sell it to pay their electric bill.
“Homeless kids help me give out free firewood,” he said. “A lot of people that help me feed the homeless are homeless.”
Kicked out of schools and being in and out of jail most of his life due to drug related charges and addiction issues, McClendon was previously labeled a “rebel,” he said. However, he said he has turned his life over to God and wants to help people and prove to everyone that he is a “Saul-becomes-Paul walking miracle.”
giving backPro-Tree Service handles topping, trimming and tree removals and is giving away free firewood to those in need. To learn about how to help or receive help, contact Michael A. McClendon at 423-242-5061 or search for “FREE FIREWOOD.” on Facebook. His other outreach, “Whatever It Takes Ministry,” can also be found on Facebook. Through WIT, McClendon gives away tents and sleeping bags to the homeless. To learn more about his business, visit here.
While in jail in August 2013, McClendon said he was able to calm down a fight breaking out when the other inmates realized he was the guy who brought free hot dogs to East Lake Courts every Saturday to hand out to homeless people as well as those living in the government housing complex. McClendon still does this through his WIT Ministry.
Exiting jail in October of 2013, McClendon walked the streets, homeless himself, for four months. He began cutting trees and oftentimes had $1,500 in his pocket, he said. However, instead of getting an apartment, he felt called by God to move into Superior Creek Lodge in East Ridge. There, he found a girl who told McClendon that her boyfriend had just taken her rent money to spend on drugs. She was unsure of hers and the futures of her children upstairs, he recounted. McClendon told her to pray about it and that God would help her. A woman ended up paying for the girl’s rent and she found a job and is doing well now, said McClendon.
These days McClendon is sleeping on a friend’s couch while he remodels a house someone gave him in Rossville. He plans to let homeless people live with him there, he said. McClendon says he would rather live with limited means so that he can help others more in need than he is.
“I saw one homeless man give his last 15 cents to another homeless man so his friend could get a cup of coffee. I saw another homeless man hold a door open for an elderly lady at the Chattanooga Community Kitchen. Even though they don’t have a home, they still have humanity,” he said.