Hammers touch 35 hearts

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Urashan was always taught it was her responsibility to take care of her belongings, but at age 76, she now realizes that isn’t always possible.

Urashan was one of 35 South Whidbey homeowners Saturday to have her Langley house given a transformation by Hearts & Hammers, a nonprofit South Whidbey group that repairs and maintains the things homeowners cannot manage by themselves.

Randy Hudson, president of Hearts & Hammers, said over 450 people volunteered for the 11th annual workday. Most worked at separate home sites, but three groups formed a kitchen crew for the night’s dinner, a crew at the recycle park to separate and dispose the items brought in from the properties and the Woodchucks — a group that cuts, splits and delivers donated firewood to homeowners.

“We couldn’t do it without the support of local business people,” Hudson said.

About $40,000 of donations were made by local businesses in the form of materials needed for the homes, he said. Another approximately $20,000 came from local donations.

But for Urashan, the experience was more than a new paint job, or a freshly weeded garden. She said the day gave her a wonderful feeling, that if anything were to happen to her, she has seen first hand the supportive community that could help her back up.

“Nothing like that had ever happened to me before,” Urashan said. “It makes me feel very safe to live here.”

To a crowd of around 500 Saturday night at the Hearts & Hammers dinner at South Whidbey High School, Urashan read aloud from a journal entry inspired by the group’s accomplishments in her home and yard.

“I could understand how an electrician or carpenter might want to help out this way, but I was having trouble grasping the idea that there were people in this world who wanted to pull weeds out of my garden. But it was true,” she read. “I was no longer worried that I might have taken on too much by moving here and I knew this would be a good place for growing old. I belong in this community.”

Hearts & Hammers will take a few short, but much needed months to regroup and energize before 2005’s work day. Hudson said preparations typically begin in September, when the organization’s board of directors meets again and starts looking for new homes to tackle.

“It’s a nice exposure for all different kinds of people to get together and work as a team,” he said.