South Whidbey showed its heart this weekend by reaching out to help a homeless family.

Locals literally and figuratively opened their arms to Sherie and Carl Campbell, and their children Kaylee, 9, and Scott, 14, all of whom have been living in a tent at the Island County Fairgrounds since summer.

People streamed into the fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday with donations of food, money, clothing, camping gear, toys and offers of jobs and housing.

“We were barely awake when the first car pulled in beside our tent at 7:30 a.m. Saturday,” Sherie Campbell said.

From then on, people just kept visiting them. Campbell said some stayed and talked, while others just drove in, handed them food, clothing and cash and then drove away.

The family was offered the use of several travel trailers, camping gear and permission to stay on private property.

They finally accepted an offer from a Greenbank couple — who wish to remain anonymous — to live in a two bedroom park trailer. In exchange for rent the Campbells will help care for the animals and property.

This is just fine with Kaylee, whose favorite past time at the fairgrounds was feeding the rabbits.

Now in her new home Kaylee said she is caring for more than a few rabbits.

“Every night I help feed at least 100 ducks, two llamas and a couple cats and dogs,” she said

Best of all job offers also poured in. Carl Campbell was working by mid-morning Saturday doing yard work and landscaping for a family that came to the fairgrounds with the job offer.

There are more jobs waiting for Carl, too, including landscaping and yard work and seasonal construction jobs.

A story in Saturday’s South Whidbey Record detailed the Campbells dire situation and brought at least 30 different families to the campground over the weekend and as many calls to the Family Resource Center offering them assistance.

Sherie and Carl Campbell talked about the weekend that changed their lives this week while in their new home in Greenbank. Both had tears in their eyes as they told their story.

“We are in awe of the kindness shown to us. We are just overwhelmed,” Sherie Campbell said.

Carl Campbell, who was orphaned at two and grew up in state institutions said the experience is like nothing he’s ever known.

“I know what it feels like now to have a big caring family.”

Picking up a Mead Composition book where she had been writing down everything that was given and offered to them, Sherie Campbell spilled out a pile of business cards from between the pages of people who offered to help.

“We will contact everyone to thank them,” she said. “But it will take time.”

Some of the smaller gestures will be the ones she remembers for the longest time. Campbell said one woman just “wrapped me in her arms and just comforted me.”

Another brought her a hot water bottle.

“What a wonderful gift,” said Campbell, who suffers from fibromyalgia.

So many people were coming in and out Sherie was unable to get everybody’s name and not everyone wanted to leave a name.

But one special person was Phyllis Rainey from the South Whidbey Literacy Council, who had been helping Carl Campbell learn to read several years ago.

“She brought him a homework assignment on cursive writing,” said Sherie Campbell.

During the weekend many people brought their children with them to the fairgrounds.

One of those was John Auburn who brought his 9-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son.

The children gave toys and chocolate to Kaylee. Auburn also brought a small refrigerator filled with fresh food.

“I have a small children,” Auburn said. “I know they need milk and good food.”

Auburn took the family a pot of hot soup Saturday night, chile and corn bread on Sunday and helped the family move to Greenbank on Tuesday.

“Many of us live comfortable lives,” Auburn said. “We have a warm houses, cars that works and food and clothing for our children. We should all reach out and help families like the Campbells. We are all one community.”

Carl Campbell, was working all day Sunday and missed most of the excitement but he did earn enough money to take his family to a Freeland motel that night.

“I called them for a room said all we could pay was $50, which was less than their rate, but they welcomed us anyway,” he said.

Helping Hand, a Langley-based charitable organization, picked up the second night in the same motel.

Tuesday was moving day. It didn’t come too soon either.

When the Campbells got back to the fairgrounds to tear down their tents, there was an eviction notice from the the Island County Fair Board posted on the tents. The notice told the Campbells that their past-due balance for living at the fair campgrounds was $150.

The letter further stated that if they were willing to vacate the premises by Tuesday, the balance owed would be waived.