Billy Duffner was just trying to warm up his family’s fireplace with some handmade paper bricks when the idea struck. What if these could help someone who didn’t have a home?
That moment became the foundation for Heat4Homeless, a grassroots nonprofit that repurposes recycled paper and sawdust into fire bricks. Each one is a portable source of warmth for people living on the streets during Chicago’s coldest months.
Duffner, an 18-year-old senior at Evergreen Park Community High School, has lived in the village his whole life. He plays baseball, loves business, and has now built a small but growing operation that has delivered hundreds of brick kits across the region.
“I’ve always volunteered with my grandparents, and I loved the feeling of helping others,” Duffner said. “I also care a lot about the environment. So, to me, it was a mission to help both. To provide warmth to people in need using materials that otherwise would’ve been thrown away.”
Each brick is made from shredded paper and sawdust. Both are commonly discarded, and that accessibility was part of Duffner’s goal from the start.
“A problem I see a lot is people want to help but don’t feel like they have the money or means to do it,” he said. “That became a challenge for me. How can I make something useful from what people already have?”
The process starts with soaking the paper and sawdust in water for a day. This weakens the paper and makes it easier to mold. The mixture is then packed into a press Duffner built with his family. A bottle jack and PVC pipes are used to shape each brick and create ventilation holes. These holes improve air flow and help the bricks burn more efficiently.
Once pressed, the bricks are removed and left to dry on racks. Each set is packed into an aluminum tray and paired with a homemade firestarter. Duffner makes the starters in the same shop using wax from discarded candles and more sawdust.
“The firestarter burns for about 15 to 20 minutes,” he said. “Then the bricks combust from the inside and keep burning for another 45 to 50 minutes. They put out a lot of heat and leave behind only ash and water. You can throw the leftovers in the grass or garden.”
The first few deliveries were simple.
Duffner handed one package to a volunteer who works with unhoused people in the city. The next week, that same volunteer came back asking for 10 more.
“He told us it made a huge difference,” Duffner said. “Now we give him as many as he needs every week.”
That initial response convinced Duffner to go all in.
With help from friends, family, and a growing base of recycled paper donors, he ramped up production. He’s working on a website, building a social media presence, and pursuing 501(c)(3) status. Heat4Homeless has also drafted a mission statement that reflects its dual commitment to sustainability and service.
“Our mission is to create sustainable heat solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness by repurposing recyclable materials. We aim to provide warmth and comfort while reducing environmental impact, ensuring that no one has to endure the cold.”
Duffner said the project reflects his values and his future.
“This really represents my passion for business,” he said. “Since the beginning, I’ve run this like a business and made decisions that way. We had a challenge with airflow, so we added holes to the bricks. That not only helped them burn better, it saved enough material to make an extra brick for every four we produce.”
His goal now is to hand off local operations to another student when he graduates this spring. In the fall, he’ll begin studying finance at Butler University in Indianapolis.
“We already have a shop space ready, so I’d love to find a high school student looking for volunteer hours or who just wants to help out,” he said.
Long term, he hopes people in other cities will adopt the model.
“This has taken a lot of time,” he said. “I’d leave baseball practice and go right to work on the bricks; but it’s been worth it. It’s something anyone can do with things we all throw away. And it helps people stay warm who otherwise might not have anything.”
This is a wonderful story! I was impressed and inspired by the fact that Billy’s grandparents helped him get his start in serving others. We need much more of this — responsible environmentally sound ways to solve everyday problems.
Where are you getting paper? I work at a small business, and I put our recycling paper in a bin at a school. Would be happy to bring it to you if you need it.