A new house in the Redwing development was surrounded Saturday by do-gooders with hammers, saws, drills and big hearts.

As the house frame went up, it was sometimes difficult to see due to the crowd of people anxious to lend a hand to this latest project by the North Chapter of Island County’s Habitat for Humanity.

Seventy-five people officially signed up on the work sheet, but there were many more than that who spent the day or part of the day giving the new house a fast start toward completion.

The U.S. Navy was partly responsible, as a large contingent arrived from the base to help with the project.

“The Navy surprised us and said they’re coming out, and boy, did they,” said Pat Eckard, one of the volunteer organizers. “We had to get more food.” There was a large crowd of hungry workers to feed at lunch time but work never stopped. As people left their work places to eat, others eagerly stepped in to take over the job.

It was common to see several people watching as one worked, since space was so limited. “You have to stand in line to swing a hammer,” said volunteer Stewart Congdon. Job foreman Jim Smith made sure that all the nails were going where they belonged.

Margie Shrum watched in amazement as her dream of a home of her own rapidly took shape. A Les Schwab employee with two children, Josh, 12, and Rebecca, 9, Shrum can’t wait to move in.

The family is presently living in a trailer court which Shrum said isn’t an ideal place for raising kids. “We were broken into three times the first year,” she said. “I just can’t wait to live in a safe neighborhood.” She was on the scene at 8:30 a.m., half an hour before the scheduled starting time.

Shrum is no stranger to the Redwing area, off Heller Road. Nine months ago she volunteered to work on the Habitat for Humanity home next door, owned by her friends Yasline Garcia and Shannon Simpkins, who celebrated their wedding in their new home in December.

Simpkins joined Shrum to watch the new house under construction Saturday. “I couldn’t have asked for a better family to be our next door neighbors,” Simpkins said.

Habitat for Humanity provides housing for lower income people on Whidbey Island, who earn 25 to 55 percent of the county’s $47,600 annual income. Families chosen for a house agree to put in at least 500 hours of “sweat equity” by helping during the construction process.

Developer Bill Massey donated six lots in Redwing to Habitat for Humanity. Shrum’s is the third to be built on. It’s the North Whidbey chapter’s 11th house overall. The free lot combined with volunteer labor and plenty of donated or discounted materials will make the house payments affordable for her.