Editor,

Valentine’s evening found over 375 people gathered at Langley Methodist Church to share the love and affection that makes South Whidbey such an exceptional place to call home. Over 60 volunteers worked to create a wonderful evening for Hearts & Hammer’s annual fund-raising dinner: delicious spaghetti, fantastic salads, and decadent desserts: all to benefit members of the South Whidbey Community. Langley United Methodist church Fellowship Hall was filled with laughter and lively conversations as friends and strangers came together to build community: neighbors coming together to help neighbors.

Food donations from every grocer on the South End (The Goose, Payless, Star Store, Red Apple at Ken’s Korner, and Clinton Food Mart), plus delicious salads from the Braeburn, China City, Fare Market, Flower House Café, Greenbank Pantry, Freeland Café, Inn at Langley, Langley Kitchen, Pickles Deli, Prima Bistro, and Village Pizzeria, Useless Bay Golf Club helped us feed a lot of people. We raised nearly $7,000, and signed up new and old volunteers for our Work Day in May.

It takes many hands to make such an event fly; in this case nearly 60 volunteers to prepare sauce, cook the pasta, set the tables, do the magic in the kitchen, provide desserts, recycle, compost, and leave the place spotless at the end of the night. This year we had a major innovation as RePurpose joined our efforts and provided all the re-usable dinnerware for the event: a FIRST!! This spectacular event is an example of what makes South Whidbey such a heart-felt place: people coming together to enjoy each other while doing good for their neighbors. I continue to be ever so grateful to be part of this giving community.

Dyanne Sheldon

Hearts & Hammers Spaghetti Dinner Coordinator