Seems like a plan made in DIY heaven that will have a ton of coal land on the old friend and get him there earlier than expected. A screw feeder is expensive, so is probably out of the safe picture. Try an oil heater that requires no dangerous weight to feed it. Who in the world is thinking that an elderly person is capable of carrying coal for any length of time?
http://www.heatpro.info heat/cool right-sizing
The Senate and House can not find a suitable health plan for the nation; they should open their own exclusive health plan booklet and start reading.