If you had to crank up the heat in your home this week, you know that even a few degrees can make a big difference later when the bill arrives.

Some people are returning to an old-fashioned alternative to help them cut their heating bills by as much as 40 percent. In Shenandoah, the community has taken note of this trend and is reaching out to help those who need warmth this winter.

When Dan Stadtfeld started remodeling his house, he decided wood was the way to go.

"Electric is so high and you can't go out and try to get a propane furnace or something and the gas is extremely high," says Stadtfeld.

Instead, he will use an old wood heater to heat his home.

"We're looking to save $75, $80 a month and if we can do that, it's going to go to the grocery store," says Stadtfeld.

Many people are discovering that something as old fashioned as firewood can cut or supplement heating costs. However, for those who can't afford wood, help is on the way.

Volunteers gathered downed trees, cut and loaded wood in Page County for a community project in its first year this weekend. The wood will go to 21 families in need of a little warmth this winter.

"Communities are out to help the community. Nobody else wants to help them, so we are," says Ron Schupner, project coordinator and co-owner of Shenandoah Hardware.

Ron and his wife Annie made firewood donation a family project this winter after hearing about the need in their store.

"We had people coming in the store that really were concerned about heating their homes for the year," says Annie Schupner.

With neighbors in need, the Schupners and area volunteers started collecting firewood.

Some of the wood will be donated to the Stadtfelds to help them start the year with warmth. The 21 families who signed up live in Page and Rockingham counties. Each will receive a cord of wood.

If you're considering a wood-burning heater or fireplace as a way to save money, Harrisonburg firefighters have a few tips:

- Clean your chimney annually.

- Place ashes in a metal container and place outside, away from the building or anything flammable.

- Have a working smoke or carbon monoxide detector in your home.