Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Island County is getting settled into new surroundings.

Thanks to the generosity of Oak Harbor community members and businesses, and a grant from the Boeing Employees Community Fund, the non-profit organization that provides positive adult role models for kids is in the process of moving into a newly-renovated office space.

Having been in temporary offices donated by the city of Oak Harbor, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Island County had to find a new, permanent location, said Peggy Stanford, executive director. However, finding the funding was a challenge.

The city of Oak Harbor offered the use of another building it owns, located near the fire station on Whidbey Avenue. Stanford jumped at the chance, thinking that a fresh coat of paint and some new carpeting would do the trick.

The old house, probably built in the 1940s, ended up needing a lot of structural work and revamping to bring it up to current codes. Stanford gathered bids for a renovation, and the price came in at about $80,000.

After a visit from the Boeing Employees Community Fund Board of Directors, Stanford learned that the fund would donate $30,000 for the renovation. She went into an information gathering-mode, to see if the necessary renovations could be done for far less than the original $80,000 price tag.

Stanford phoned Gary Goltz, the construction manager for Oak Harbor School District, and Ron Wallin, owner of P&L Construction in Oak Harbor. She asked if they could look at the building to give her an idea of how much work it absolutely needed.

“From that day on, Ron took it on as a project,” Stanford said. P&L Construction is the general contractor on the project, and has provided labor for free.

“Every worker that’s come into the building has been a believer in Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and so have offered their support,” Stanford said.

From there the community contributions grew. People and businesses donated windows, exterior siding, roofing and other construction materials, as well as money. Stanford is in the process of planning a week-long open house, to take place in February, at which time all contributors will be formally announced and publicly thanked.

Meanwhile, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Island County will continue to settle into the new digs, while maintaining business as usual. The new quarters are light and bright with extra touches that Stanford hadn’t planned on. Oak cabinetry and upgraded mouldings give the space a look of new construction, all at a cost far less than Stanford had expected.

In fact, the outpouring of community support has been so tremendous, that the project cost decreased from the original bids of $80,000 to just $20,000, Stanford said. Boeing Employees Community Fund allowed Big Brothers/Big Sisters to keep the left-over funds from the $30,000 grant to purchase a much-needed photocopier, Stanford said.