Recipients of Roots of Wellness and Healing Circles Langley’s COMMUNITY SALUTES
Rose Homme
Rose and Diana have been a consistent support for black, indigenous, and people of color on South Whidbey. And specifically, in this challenging time, they created a way to connect community members who have extra financial resources with those who are struggling.
Diana Sandoval
Rose and Diana have been a consistent support for black, indigenous, and people of color on South Whidbey. And specifically, in this challenging time, they created a way to connect community members who have extra financial resources with those who are struggling.
CAROL McNEIL
Emmy and Carol were two of the volunteers collecting samples to test for COVID 19, and helping keep our community safe.
EMMY ATWOOD
Emmy and Carol were two of the volunteers collecting samples to test for COVID 19, and helping keep our community safe.
CARLA JOLLEY
After full days of working crazy long hours in Home HealthCare, Carla checked in daily on a friend struggling with illness. She deserves to be recognized for her generous spirit and selfless service, her humility and steadfast care,
always delivered with a warm smile.
Eileen Jackson
Herself a retired nurse, Eileen spearheaded widespread mask & gown making for Whidbey Health and other organizations with folks working on the front lines. Eileen worked with many other women also made this contribution possible include Jackie Backus, Joan Wortman, Carole Hansen, Melisa Doss, Jane Klassen, Elaine Ludtke, Gail Riecks, Cynthia Kaul, and Canon Joan Anthony
John Auburn
When John had to close his restaurant because of COVID 19, he chose to use his kitchen instead to cook and deliver free soup to at risk community members FREE of charge. John helped to keep his staff and their families safe, and bring comfort and nutrition to some of those who would be most affected by the virus.
PLUS at the end of each day, he gives all remaining fresh bagels to WIN for their meal bags
Juan Zalapa
During the COVID-19 crisis, Juan and his team at Eat Clean Whidbey (David, Lindsey, Miles, Dennis, Michelle, Ryan, and Josh) have been cooking every week for people, and using the funds to provide free meals to those who need it. They even call paying customers to ask if they know anyone who needs free meals. In addition, he has provided half price meals to a variety of essential workers. And... all of this without pay! His nomination stated 'When asked, he says it is part of his identity to do this for his community.'
CHERYN WEISER
As ED of Island Senior Resources, Cheryn, worked tirelessly so that services could continue in the COVID crisis AND increased services like medical transportation and Meals On Wheels by 50%. In addition, she was able to retain most their employees by creatively reinventing how to maintain their high level of services.
Judy Feldman
Judy’s leadership at the Organic Farm School has been phenomenal- growing starts, getting plants out, harvesting and marketing (all normally done with students but the students couldn’t come!) This is in acknowledgement of the really long hard days, and her plans to support the food bank and WIN with extra produce.
URSULA SHOUDY
Ursula and her team of donors has been cooking up a STORM of meals for the residents at Brookhaven, and Judy has been coordinating and delivering the meals.
JUDY THORSLUND
Ursula and her team of donors has been cooking up a STORM of meals for the residents at Brookhaven, and Judy has been coordinating and delivering the meals.
The Good Cheer Food Bank and Garden folks:
Carlee Bane Yvonne Delarosa Lissa Firor Tyler Howard Maggie Johns Clay Kiichli John Korbel Karen Korbelik Christi Landrum Will Lint Carol Squire Scott Stark Stephanie Turco
These amazing people work several days a week, serving the Community by providing food when and where it’s needed.
They are a tireless, professional, and enthusiastic bunch!
The Volunteers at Whidbey Island Nourishes
W.I.N. Staff and volunteers have expanded their services and modified as needed to continue to feed the children in our community even with the increased demands required because of COVID 19.
Shelly Benton
On March 12, 2020 The HUB Youth Central was notified they would have to close indefinitely due to COVID-19 The schools also closed, both of these organizations being a food and resource lifeline for many families.
Shelly put a plan in place ensuring needed food got to The HUB member families restricted to their homes. By the following week, Shelly and her HUB team had contacted families, and were personally delivering food and hygiene products to families in need. Today, with the pandemic still in progress, The HUB Youth and Family Hunger Relief program continues to be a resource for our great community, with food as our critical focus, providing over 3000 meals and peace of mind to South Whidbey families who would otherwise be in crisis during this pandemic.
KATE DAVIES
Kate was nominated for a salute to recognize how continuing her weekly meditation series and adding a night to focus on coping with Covid 19 through meditation, has helped others manage their stress during this time.
Des Rock
Des of Useless Bay Coffee and his family, Tracy, Oliver and Lucy,
have been making large quantities of soups for Good Cheer patrons and for the families that receive WIN meals during the COVID Crisis.
Scott Parks
Scott was nominated because of his 'indomitable spirit' and sharing his sense of humor to keep the community laughing during these sometimes dark times. He has fed the community from the very start of the lockdown and figured out ways to keep the donuts coming. His nominator says 'It's difficult to put into words the ways in which his very being can bring light to darkness.'
drew kampion
Through the vessel of drewslist, a person who has access to the internet can find out what is happening and who is doing it! With Drew’s ‘surfboard’, B+, attitude he has kept us all up to date on all the changes with local businesses and governmental regulations during the COVID-19 crisis.
MICKY SARKIS
Micky was nominated because of her many supportive actions in our community- feeding individuals and organizations (Homeless Coalition, House of Hope, Brookhaven, and Haven in OH) with free pizzas, giving money to struggling employees (especially in this current economic crisis helping with rent, food, etc.). Her nominator called her a ‘champion for the young’ on the island because of her training, employment, and mentoring of youth and helping them navigate the challenges of this pandemic.
JUlie harrop
During the entire sheltering-in-place time, Julie and her grandaughter have been painting a wide variety of scenes on many rocks, and have been placing them in strategic, peek-a-boo places along your neighborhood’s path down to the Salish Sea beach on the Sound... just “TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY!” And it is definitely happiness inducing when you stumble across one of these pretty painted rocks!
kristin clauson, sharon warwick and peg tenant
These three women were nominated, as Island’s Farmers’ Market managers for your extraordinary efforts to open and assure safe access to local farm-raised food this spring during the COVID-19 crisis.
Note: Kristin Clauson pictured
Other amazing people who received Salutes, but we were unable to get picture of:
Theresa Sanders and Hannah Liss: Worked Intensely to get Island County to be able to progress to Level 2 as quickly as possible
Graham Gori: For creating the Giving Bag program through Portico
Gail LaVassar: For going above and beyond for families as head of Readiness to Learn\
Vickie Haglie: For making/donating over 500 masks for various businesses, hospitals, etc. here on Whidbey Island.
Anthony and Tara: They work at Freeland Post Office and are wonderful
Jake Stewart: at Sweet Water Farm has been purchasing groceries for elderly and at risk folks in the community
Jack Ng and Jin Ma: For donating to Island Senior Resources, the Good Cheer Food bank, their Monday Meal giveaway for families in need, donating masks to Whidbey Health, and much more.
Greg Frederick: did an epic Live stream DJ event and raised over $1,000 for the Good Cheer food bank.