Editor,

The past year has been strange and difficult with COVID-19 disrupting just about everyone’s lives. The operations of non-profit organizations, including Central Whidbey Hearts & Hammers, were not spared either. We regretted having to cancel our annual 2020 Community Work Day. We also had to cancel our annual Community Dinner in January.

Now, at the point in the year where the CWH&H board and volunteers normally are intensely planning for the 2021 Work Day, usually held the first Saturday in May. We will, again, need to postpone the Work Day in the best interests of the health of our community.

The CWH&H board has continued to meet virtually to plan for the future. We are hoping that public health guidelines will allow us to hold the 2021 Work Day in late September. As soon as that looks possible we will send out a notice to “save the date,” We look forward to again gathering together on a single day and building our community through neighbors helping neighbors.

Regardless of exactly when the next Work Day is scheduled, we are always looking for projects. Anyone who owns their own home and is physically or financially challenged, with maintenance or repair projects that could affect their health or safety, qualifies. Please let your friends and neighbors in the Central Whidbey area know that we offer assistance to homeowners in need.

In the meantime, we have been taking on the most urgent projects of our neighbors in need with our Home Emergency Action Response Team program. Homeowners with a repair issue that immediately affects their health or safety, who are not able to make the repair themselves or hire someone to do it, qualify for assistance through HEART.

If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance with home repairs, please contact us on the Homeowner page of CWH&H’s website, email us at cwheartsandhammers@gmail.com, or by phone at 360-720-2114.

If you have the time, the skills and the “heart” to volunteer with the HEART program team, please go to the volunteer page of our website and sign up, specifically checking “yes” when asked “are you signing up for our emergency HEART program?”

We will keep our community informed about our plans for Work Day as they develop.

Kelly Keilwitz, president

Board of directors

Central Whidbey Hearts & Hammers