STROUD TOWNSHIP -- Many people in the Poconos have been turning to wood pellet stoves and wood stoves to keep warm this winter, and to help keep heating costs down.
Now, people are searching all over Monroe County for a place to buy pellets, as the supplies are running low. Getting warm this winter has come at a high cost for some.
Workers at Stoves n' Stuff near Stroudsburg say it's those high heating bills that have helped drive sales of wood pellet stoves and wood stoves.
"It does, certainly yes. Everybody's looking for an alternative heat source, save some money on oil or gas and typically we try to supply them with wood pellets as well," said assistant manager Peter Catanese.
Catanese says this winter is one of the busiest he's seen in his eight years working there. He says the store has sold hundreds of pellet and wood stoves over the past few months.
"Certainly it saves a lot of money but it also gives a beautiful aesthetic. Ultimately it comes down to the cost, but looking at it long term, it's a worthy investment," said Catanese.
But this store, like many others, is struggling to get their hands on pellets. There's plenty of demand, but not much supply.
Workers at Home Depot say they've been getting about a truck of pellets per day, and they're going out just about as fast as they're coming in.
Karen Zacharias says she called all over Monroe County for pellets and drove to the Stroudsburg area from Kunkletown.
"It's nice when you can actually find them and you have to be quick because they sell out so fast," said Zacharias.
Terrance Mathias of East Stroudsburg actually drove out of state to get fuel for his stove.
"About two weeks ago we couldn't find any. I went, in fact I had to go into New Jersey to get some," said Mathias.
He's taking a cart full of pellets, but workers say some orders are much bigger.
"By the pallet we're selling them or by the bag and they're going either way, so it's been a steady flow out the door," said Home Depot garden department manager Joseph Kramer.
The rush is expected to continue until warmer temperatures come our way.
