To the editor:

I’m an island newcomer, so this Hearts & Hammers thing was a “ho-hum” to me until last Saturday.

My “shift” was a 4-to-10 p.m. stint at the high school, apron on and watching. Immediately, I was put to work sawing up baguettes and “Screaming Banshee Breads,” arranging the bread in baskets and getting them onto a table in the cafeteria. “The working crews would be here for a 5:30 dinner,” I was told.

I then moved to the kitchen, where a chef and sous-chef from Ivar’s Restaurant guided us working hands to cut up huge slabs of donated salmon for the pasta dish. Carrots, zucchini, onions and mushrooms sizzled as they were tossed on a huge grill; 450 people were expected for dinner. This seemed daunting to me, but coordinating all of this volunteer energy went smoothly.

Two lines were set with salad, steamed vegetables and the salmon-cheese pasta.

I was able to ladle copious quantities onto every plate as tired, happy souls gratefully thanked us.

And the leftovers were bagged for any worker who wished — we served hundreds more via take-home Zip-locks.

So my take is this: What a grand community effort. Fantastic organization over the entire year culminated in a community gift — a giant experience of giving and receiving from Ivar’s, the Goose, the hours of effort from the organizers and volunteers. All gifting us. Labors of love, and those loaves and fishes were vaguely familiar, too. Screaming Banshee Bread indeed! This South Whidbey energy is a gas.

Thank you all.

Sam Glass

Langley