Hearts & Hammers is looking for homes to repair for its annual workday, and the nonprofit has more than 500 volunteers ready to help.

The annual workday — the next one is planned for — is a day of neighbors helping neighbors. Community volunteers give a day of their life to help homeowners who are physically or financially unable to do needed repair work alone. The driving interest is to help people stay in their homes with a priority given to health and safety issues.

Last year hundreds of volunteers worked at nearly 60 sites, from Greenbank to Clinton, repairing homes for the disabled, the elderly and homeowners with limited resources. Crews also worked at various sites chopping wood, recycling, preparing food and providing support services.

Volunteers from all over the  community, built ramps, fixed plumbing, cleaned yards, cleared trees, repaired roofs, floors, bathrooms and kitchens, and provided practical help and community support for their neighbors.

Homeowners who have a home in need of help can apply can visit heartsandhammers.com or call 221-6063, or by mail to Hearts & Hammers, Box 694, Langley, WA 98260. The deadline to sign up for help for May 2012 workday is Jan. 31.

Labor and materials are free to the homeowners, many of whom work alongside the volunteers when physically able. This is all possible through generous donations from individuals, local businesses and churches, community and service organizations, and by in-kind donations of labor and materials.

HEART (Home Emergency Action Repair Team) is available for emergency repairs throughout the year, when help is needed before the May workday. A number of volunteers offer their help all year long for homes that need critical attention immediately.

Donations to Hearts & Hammers are always welcome and needed. Contributions can be make on line, or mailed.