The HELP Network on South Whidbey Island is truly amazing and I wanted to start the year off with a post about the many ways that people can find help on South Whidbey Island. People helping people is what it is all about.

Gary Zukov wrote in his book, The Seat of the Soul, that “millions of individuals are awakening,  sometimes to their surprise,  to a hunger for harmony, cooperation, sharing, and a reverence for Life. Their challenge is to create those things in a world of discord, competition, hoarding, and exploitation, a world in which life is a cheap commodity.”

There are in the neighborhood of one to two million organizations working toward ecological sustainability and social justice. This social movement is decentralized and has no specific leaders; hence no media following. Paul Hawken in his book Blessed Unrest noted that “This is the largest social movement in all of human history. No one knows it’s scope, and how it functions is more mysterious than what meets the eye.”

The HELP Network is a small but powerful part of this movement.

Hawken says “What does meet the eye is compelling: coherent, organic, self-organized congregations involving tens of millions of people dedicated to change. What I see are ordinary people willing to confront despair, power, and incalculable odds in an attempt to restore some semblance of grace, justice, and beauty in this world.”

It is very evident that we have our own movement right here on South Whidbey Island.

We have The HELP Network! By Clicking on their logo you can visit their websites or read a post that was done last year about the organization.

All of us working together to help strengthen our community! It’s a good place to start.

Good Cheer!

The Good Cheer Food Bank is only as good as the community that it is part of.  It is from this community that we find volunteers, charitable givers and businesses that have put their hearts into making Good Cheer the success that it is.

Below are photos of some of the organizations and people that make this community work. You can read the post that was written by just clicking on your photo of choice. I’m sure that we have missed someone but you all know that you are in our hearts and minds.

Fixing Homes…………………                                                        Thanksgiving on Wheels………………

Food Drives on South Whidbey Island…………………………………

Nourishing our young people………………….                           Supporting our Volunteers………………….

Island wide food drive…………………..                                         Affordable Housing…………………….

Grocery store partner……………………                                         Helping our children grow……………..

Harvest celebrations……………………                                         Fresh Fruit from our neighbors…………………..

Matching community donations……………                               Support through arts and crafts……………………..

Volunteers asking for help……………….                                      Businesses supporting raffles………………….

Providing community service…………………                               Supporting the best for women…………….

Gathering places and youth programs……………………          Sharing homes…………….

Local talent………………                                                                    Helping with medical expenses…………………..

Valued business partners…………………                                      Promoting student success……………..

Click on the photo above and you can read a wonderful poem about never quitting.  Good Cheer, like all of you who help,   is here to enable people and families. It is up the the individual to succeed in life.

“Don’t Quit.”

Together we all bring good cheer!

Saratoga Community Housing is a part of the HELP Network on South Whidbey Island and provides affordable housing opportunities for lower to moderate income residents in Island County.

The Community Land Trust (CLT) Model is the key to the program developed by Saratoga Community Housing.  A CLT is a non-profit organization created to hold land for the benefit of a community and those individuals within the community. Board members are elected for limited terms, so the community retains ultimate control of the organization and the land it owns.

The CLT acquires land through purchase or donation with an intention to retain title in perpetuity, thus removing the land from the speculative market. Homes built on this land help individuals and families who would otherwise be squeezed out of the housing market due to their income level.

Island County Habitat for Humanity has been involved in building some of the homes in the land trust. They hope to be able to build 6-8 homes on Whidbey Island every year.

Since the property is sold without title to the underlying property; appreciation is tied only to the value of the home. This feature of a land trust preserves affordability into the future. The home is more affordable since you are not buying the land.

Saratoga Community Housing  will work with prospective home buyers. They will provide a plan for raising a down payment (typically 10-20%) and they will help in the establishment or repair of credit (620+ credit scores are needed).   The recession has pushed home values down so homes may be available for $200,000 rather than the $350,000 that it used to be.

It is important for the people who work in our communities to have homes. Home owners and their families have a more vested interest in their community if that is the case. Over the last decade, housing costs in Island County have skyrocketed. Unfortunately, incomes have not kept pace. Everyday people, from hardworking families to seniors living on fixed incomes, cannot afford to own a home in the community in which they work. Community Land Trusts make home ownership affordable.

Orcas Island is one example of an area with little in the way of affordable housing. Nurses, teachers and emergency medical technicians are important to the community and this is where the CLT comes into play.

Remember, the land beneath the home belongs to the trust. The land is leased to the home owner for a nominal fee through a long-term (99), renewable and inheritable lease.

Not all of the properties are new. The photo below is the first home that was donated to the trust by Nancy Nordhoff.

CLTs get people into the door of an attainable home. The original investment from the community makes possible a transition from renting to owning, and the equity built through ownership can be applied to future home purchases in the traditional market.

This home was recently completed at the Frostad Pond location in Oak Harbor.

Homes are available with payments as low as $550 per month. The monthly principal, interest, tax and insurance payment is based on the home price and the household’s income.

The stable and secure housing made possible by the land trusts enables many individuals and families to invest in their own future, improve their financial status and positively contribute to the economic development of the community.

Land trusts are serious about sustainability. These communities are designed to make the most of the land while preserving green space. Also, when people can live where they work, commuting and its negative effects on both the individual and community are reduce.

Eligibility requirements and the application process for Saratoga Community Housing can be accessed by clicking here.

Let’s all make sure to get the word out; this is a wonderful program that nurtures our community and those who live in it.

Good Cheer!

The South Whidbey Youth Connection is a part of the HELP Network of South Whidbey Island and an integral part of the community.  We’ve written about the HELP Network in the past and there are a still a few more organizations that need to be highlighted.

You can click on the above logo to read all the posts associated with the HELP Network.

Providing a gathering place for our youth is extremely important and we do it well on South Whidbey Island. Having the South Whidbey Commons and the Youth Connection is  a blessing.

The South Whidbey Youth Connection is all about having fun and helping our children grow. It  is an organization that fosters healthy youth development by offering a drug and violence free opportunities for area teens in a safe and nurturing environment.

The South Whidbey Youth Connection was created in 1989 by a coalition of caring Islanders representing public schools, congregations and a circle of community leaders. What sprouted as a small after-school center has grown into The Hub, a drop-in center for middle and high school students, where healthy interaction, fun and food are shared five days a week.

The Hub  re-opened on the first day of school, September 7th, in their usual location at the Langley United Methodist Church.

Local philanthropist Nancy Nordoff is issuing a challenge to the community. Nancy will match up to $5,000 in donations received through the middle of  October that will directly support The Hub’s operations. If you usually wait until the holidays to make your annual donation, please consider doing it now so Nancy can match it. You can click here to find out how you can support the Youth Connection.

The South Whidbey Youth Connection provides a number of activities for the young people of our community.

Swimming with friends.

Spending time with our larger four-legged friends:)

Surfs up!

You should also know that the D.V. and Ida McEachern Charitable Trust have been lending a big helping hand at the Hub.  After more than two decades of use, many of their games and appliances were wearing out and needed to be replaced.  Thanks to their support they are getting new dishwashers and toasters for the kitchen, new foosball, air hockey and ping pong tables, new instruments for music lessons and jam sessions, and several new Wii and Xbox games.

Need some help around your home or business?

The Teen Employment Experience Network continues to grow. This summer was a big success!  During the past 2½ months (May 15 to July 31) they’ve employed 13 youth in South Whidbey for a total of 170 hours. 15 employers have utilized their services;  the majority being “at home‟ employment, such as mowing lawns, weeding, moving furniture and the like.

Quite a bit going on at the South Whidbey Youth Connection!

Good Cheer!

The Hidden Needs of South and Central Whidbey is the focus of the 9:30 a.m. Adult Forum at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland on Sunday, Sept. 19.

Representatives from the Good Cheer Food Bank, The South Whidbey Family Resource Center, Ryan’s House, and Gifts from the Heart Food Bank in Greenbank and Coupeville will speak about social service needs in area communities.

Whidbey Island is known for its lovely vacation homes and as a travel destination, but the continuing recession has pushed more families into need. The public is invited to attend the hour-long forum being held in the church’s Fireside Room.

I’ve been asked to share some thoughts about our program at Good Cheer and how the economy is impacting us. The following are some questions that I may address at the Trinity Adult Forum. I wanted to post this in case you were not able to attend the forum.

Are community needs, growing or declining, or holding even this year?

They are growing; in 2009 the average number of families served a month was 668 and  in 2010 it is 770 a 14% increase.  The number of visits to the food bank per month in 2009 was 1056 in 2010 it is 1294.

How do South and Central Whidbey social service agencies work together?

The non-profits of South Whidbey have formed the HELP Network (past posts this one included just scroll down) , where we meet quarterly to share and update each other.  Good Cheer works very closely with Helping Hand, The Family Resource Center, and CADA in helping them meet their client’s needs in which our Thrift Stores can help.

What are the growing populations or situations that you serve?

The fastest growing population using the Food Bank this year is our Senior population.

What negative attitudes or remarks do you find yourself trying to dispel?

That people use the Food Bank when they really aren’t in need.

How do you measure success?

Personally, when I hear a story where we have helped someone and they tell us because we provided food not judgment they have been able to maintain their dignity (click here). We  also have the numbers to show that what we are doing is working (click here).

How are you funded?  How has your funding been affected by the recession?

Thrift Store Sales = 69%

Monetary Donations = 26%

Fundraising = 3%

Grants = 2 %

Monetary Donations in the beginning of the year were below budget but the matching program initiated by Whidbey Island Bank was a huge success; we are blessed to have such support.

What gives you the most hope?  Or what is your greatest reward for the work you do?

Knowing that we have impacted lives in a very significant way. The fact that we give people a chance to feel better about themselves when life is tough.

How do you combat “compassion fatigue” or recharge your emotional/spiritual/physical batteries?

Walking, praying, and being with the ones I love…..

If you could ask for one thing for your organization, from area churches, what would it be?

For them to continue the wonderful support that they have provided for as long as I can remember.

What resource(s) have been most helpful to you in your position as a leader of your organization?

VOLUNTEERS, donations to our Thrift Stores, shoppers of our Thrift Stores, monetary donors, the collaboration of the HELP Network, and the support of the COMMUNITY.

Good Cheer!

You are all invited to come to the newly renovated SW Commons Coffeehouse Bookstore (formerly known as the Island Coffeehouse).

In February 2010 the Coffeehouse Bookstore closed for partial renovation, as it became apparent that the kitchen floor was sinking. Upon further inspection it was discovered that the middle portion of the foundation was in dire need of repair, while at the same time most of the electrical and plumbing in the nearly 100 year old building needed to be brought up to standards.

This project has been a true community ‘barn raising’ event and after a 14 week hiatus the majority of the project has been completed and the café is now open. Deep gratitude for the countless hours spent by Jim and Jo Shelver, board members and project managers, who skillfully guided the project and to our principle contractor Greg Gilles and Architect Ross Chapin. Their work and the work of many community heroes have made it possible to have a place where the heartbeat of individuals come together to share in the journey of life.

I had a chance to speak with Gena Kraha the Program Director for SW Commons just this week

Gena says that “SW Commons fosters a vibrant community gathering place with a wide range of programs for children, youth, families and seniors.  It is a true “commons” for local culture, community connections, and a catalyst for the local economy and community health.” She noted that this project wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the community. “A heartfelt thank you to the community for stepping forward and contributing their time, talent and treasure to make this project a success, and we look forward to building a future of community with you. “

Baristas from left to right; Izzy Moreno, Caitlin Goldbaum and Ethan Berkley

Here is an excerpt from an essay written by Ian Marsanyi, a former volunteer, who is currently attending Columbia University. I think it does a great job of setting the tone for what SW Commons Coffeehouse Bookstore is all about.

“It is a warm room; cozy but open and inviting no matter how many people are around. In one corner a sofa, functional if not stylish, like the chair next to the fireplace, or the free sack lunches round the back.The hissing of a steam wand pierces through the air, a surprise to new-comers but nothing more than ambiance to regulars. As milk swirls so do ideas, opinions, and weekend itineraries of a thousand individuals, all united by this one place in many times.

Whether you like coffee or tea, it is a hub for interaction with community members both young and old, an outlet for inspiration and experimentation, and most importantly a way for me to give back to the island that has made me the person I am today.”

You can view a slideshow of a photo shoot that I did this past week by clicking on the photo above. You can view the slideshow in full screen by clicking the button in the lower right hand corner of the slideshow.

You can also read the post that we did on South Whidbey Commons by clicking here.

Good Cheer!

WISH – Whidbey Island Share a Home is a non-profit program for affordable housing created almost six ago by the Soroptimists of South Whidbey Island.  WISH became an independent program one year later under the leadership of their  founders.  They have grown into an island wide program, serving the community for the last two years but have kept their roots in Freeland.  The WISH office is housed at the Trinity Lutheran Church on Rt 525.

Their mission is to provide affordable housing alternatives on Whidbey Island. They utilize existing housing by helping bring together home providers, who want to share their homes, with home seekers looking for an affordable place to live. Home providers are willing to share space in their home in exchange for rent, services or a combination of both.

For older home owners, sharing means remaining independent in their own homes. No two home sharing arrangements are alike. They vary according to the personal needs, time and abilities of the people involved.

What is unique about this program is that they attempt to match the home provider and home seeker through a process. This is not like sharing a home through Craigslist or through the newspaper.

The process has the following steps:

1. The first step is to request an application.
2. WISH then will contact references and conduct a criminal background check.
3. There is an in-depth interview to understand your housing needs and personal interests.
4. Profile listings of all approved home providers and home seekers are made available.
5. WISH is a “self-match” program. You decide who you would like to meet. If both parties are in agreement, WISH provides contact information.
6. Once you have met, you both decide if you want to live together.

Why do people want to home-share?

People enter home sharing arrangements for many different reasons. Some people want help with housing expenses, while others are interested in companionship or security. Some home sharing matches involve the exchange of home services in place of part or all of the rent. These services can help older adults maintain their homes.

Home sharing can help people of all ages through transitional periods such as a divorce, loss of a spouse, temporary unemployment, or educational pursuits. The rent will vary match to match. Rent is determined by the home-provider, and will depend on the type of services, if any, the home-seeker will provide.

Home seekers are looking for affordable housing on Whidbey Island. For those looking for a place to rent, sharing offers a better place to live for less.

Over eighty per cent of their clients are women and women with children.  The vast majority are over 60 years old. They may be homeless or they may face the need to be placed in a care facility. Many potential home providers can’t  safely remain in their homes alone or they face the threat of  losing their homes due to finances. People can help each other and help to overcome these circumstances.

WISH made 53 matches in the past year, more than doubling the previous year but with less funding.  Due to the economy their community outreach has been below expectations but the need continues to increase.

WISH works with the Rural Homeless population. These are not the street homeless that we see on the street corners in big city’s but the working poor and those on fixed incomes.

WISH strives to help everyone who comes to their door but the availability of affordable housing on the island does not come close. The vast majority of  home seekers have an income that is 30% of the national poverty level. Many of these are also the same folks who use our wonderful food bank to make ends meet and put a wholesome healthy meal on the table.

There is no “”housing bank’ to shelter people on a cold wet night in January. Imagine sitting in a car at the Park and Ride trying to put your life in order and just wishing for a real home.  We all know the need on this island. When people are hungry we all help to feed them; now please lets help them find a safe affordable place to live.

You can seek help by clicking on this link to WISH. Their website will answer your questions and give you an opportunity to help with a donation.

Good Cheer!

Good Cheer knew that South Whidbey had talent and it was on full display last weekend at our fund raising event “The Mother of All Talent Shows”. Once again Good Cheer is indebted to so many, more than we could ever individually list in this space.  This was a concerted effort from everyone in the community pulling together to help people in need.

There is something about this community that engenders a certain warmth and a feeling of belonging. It was no more apparent than at this wonderful display of local talent; a definite “10”. The quality of the performances went way beyond everyone’s expectations. The beauty of the show was in the diversity of talent and the participation that came from young and not so young.  When you combine talented performers and the first class theatre at South Whidbey High School it spelled success.

A young man by the name of JaNoah Spratt and a State Representative Norma Smith gave the show its wings and I’m sure that it will become an annual event.

Good Cheer has traditionally relied on Thrift Store sales and community monetary donations to support Food Bank operations, but because of increasing client numbers, the Board of Directors have asked the staff to add a fundraising component. The talent show proceeds were $5090 which was pleasantly $1890 over what Good Cheer staff had budgeted.  We are so grateful and wish to extend a “BIG” thank you to everyone who played a part in our first annual talent show.

South Whidbey has a tradition of hosting talent shows and we will make sure that the tradition continues.

The highlight of the evening was when Representative Norma Smith, having made prior arrangements with Good Cheer, presented JaNoah with a flag that had flown over the state capital and a document acknowledging his exemplary service to our community. JaNoah was the driving force behind the talent show; he secured all the raffle donations, assisted with production, and was a performer as well. JaNoah continues to set an example that we call all look up to!

We have put together a slide show of the event; all you have to do is click on the above photo. You can view the slide show in full screen by clicking on the icon in the lower right corner of the slide show screen. The photos came from two of our volunteers who gave of their time to leave us with their photo memories. Thank you Hal Seligson and Corrine Bayley!

Together we are creating a hunger-free community!

Good Cheer!

Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund is charitable organization committed to helping the residents of South Whidbey with uncovered medical expenses.

As many of you know, we live in a special community.  One that truly cares about helping those in need. It’s all about people helping people!

In 2009 Friends of Friends helped 235 South Whidbey residents with a total of $81,446 in medical bills.  Since 1997 Friends of Friends has been a conduit for donations from the community, paying over $600,000 in medical and dental expenses.  In the beginning, their founder, Lynn Willeford, took calls from her home. They now employ a part-time paid service coordinator to authorize services. In their years of existence; Friends of Friends have been a temporary safety net, helping hundreds of individuals.

Friends of Friends is part of the HELP Network that is focused on improving the quality of life for those who live in our community.

Friends of Friends has to set dollar limits on how much they can help any one individual over the course of a year in order to meet the needs of as many people as possible. They cannot reimburse individuals for bills already paid nor make any direct payments to individuals. They pay only providers of medical services such as health professionals, hospitals, labs, or pharmacies, and to the ferry system for medically necessary travel.

Friends of Friends helps with dental needs only in situations with medical implications, and covers only those complementary or alternative medical therapies with a proven record of efficacy when used for a specific medical condition.

You should know that Friends of Friends volunteers are not caseworkers, they can not give medical advice, nor can they make medical referrals.

They can help you with prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, visits to health professionals, medical equipment or supplies, hospital and lab fees or transportation to treatment on the mainland.

Examples of ways Friends of Friends have helped:

* Prescription medication for a senior citizen diagnosed with diabetes
* Co-pay on doctor visits for a child with multiple disabilities
* Mammogram and ultrasound tests for a single working mom unable to afford health insurance
* Ferry tickets and gas vouchers for someone needing on-going treatment several days a week at a mainland hospital
* Acupuncture treatment for a woman with chronic pain
* Rental of a knee scooter

The success of any charitable organization is predicated on the thoughtful donations made by it’s supporters. It is about having compassion for others.  Those who take action by showing this compassion set in place an inspiration for others to follow; from a few come many!

Donations and Support can also be event driven. Friends of Friends has an annual event that we all know as the  Mr. South Whidbey Island Pageant. Here a handful of South Whidbey’s finest compete for the title during an evening filled with humor and shenanigans.

The contestants and crowd alike gather each year to support this local event, which provides crucial resources for the Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund.

Looks like great fun and for a great cause!  Once again the event will be held at Freeland Hall on October 2nd; so mark your calendars!

Next Event

You won’t want to miss the Annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale. This is a special event with individuals donating plants right from their own gardens. You can expect to find many unique and unusual items for sale! What a great way to freshen your gardens and support Friends of Friends at the same time.

Maxwelton Valley Gardens is also donating some shade loving plants; many thanks to them.

Annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale
South Whidbey Tilth, Bayview
The Saturday before Mother’s Day
May 8, 10-2 pm.

If you would like to make a donation here is a link .

Friends of Friends supports those in need on South Whidbey with the following Zip Codes: 98236, 98260, 98249, and 98253.

If you live in the Coupeville area, a similar grassroots organization was formed in 2006 to serve people in your area. Please contact Small Miracles , PO Box 912, Coupeville, WA 98239. (360) 672-5651.

If you need help with medical expenses in the South Whidbey area:

You can call their message line at (360) 221-4535

Send an e-mail  to info@fofmedicalsupportfund.org

Write them at:

Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund
PO Box 812
Langley, WA 98260

However you contact Friends of Friends, please provide your name and address, and a phone number where they can reach you. You should hear from them within 24 hours.

People Helping People doesn’t get any better!

Good Cheer!

The South Whidbey Commons grew out of a 1998 Family/Youth Summit. A shared vision and plan for an increasingly healthy and connected South Whidbey community was put forth. It is a vision that has taken roots in our community.

Caitlin Golbaum, an Americorp volunteer, comments on the community, the Island Coffeehouse and Books and the South Whidbey Commons were really on target.

“In my short six months here as an AmeriCorps member, I have been consistently impressed by the way this community cares for its own. There are several incredible non-profit organizations in the community that work tirelessly to ensure that basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter are available to everyone. However, there is a fourth fundamental need that often gets overlooked: the need to build relationships with other people. The South Whidbey Commons is a non-profit that is dedicated to providing a safe, comfortable place where members of the community of all ages can build connections.”

The HELP Network, which South Whidbey Commons is a member, is truly unique. There is something special about our community and I do think that it is that small town atmosphere that makes it easier to know each other. Having programs that accentuate that belief in sharing and building connections is a way to ensure that we all feel like we are a part of the community.

South Whidbey Commons offers a wide variety of programs that serve as opportunities for interaction with the community. Their free PlayScape program allows children age birth through kindergarten to play together, while caregivers can visit and share experiences.

The Island Coffeehouse and Books is a welcoming communal space and also serves as a training facility for volunteer youth baristas who go out in the community with outstanding customer service and business skills. Every Friday night at 7pm, the coffeehouse offers free music performances where local and national musicians can connect with an audience in an intimate setting.

The Board knew that their facility had structural problems when it was initially purchased. A sinking foundation was the main issue. Work began on February 1st to correct the problem and to begin the remodeling of the facility. It is expected to be completed during the month of April. While it doesn’t appear that much is going on outside; most of the interior of the facility will be new!

Having a free space where people of all ages can engage in conversation and build relationships is vital to a healthy community.

If you want to learn more about the construction progress you can click on the above photo. The Island Coffeehouse and Books blog was started in September of last year and it is full of information. Blogs are all about having a conversation with the community and they have done a great job!

We have our homes and schools or work; the Third Place is the Island Coffeehouse and Books. You can click on the above photo to view a video on South Whidbey Commons.

This from Rosie’s post on The Third Place:

“I’ve heard it said that we all have three places. Our home, our work and a third place we gather for community, friendly discourse and nourishment of all kinds. It’s tricky for me, since this is where I work, but it is often where I find myself, even when I am not working. I am comfortable here. I am nourished here, literally and figuratively. In a world fraught with so many unhappy, isolating things, it is a comfort to find a place where one feels safe. Where there is a sense of belonging.”

Sound like family? You bet it is!!

If you want to make a donation to South Whidbey Commons here is the link.