South Whidbey at Home (SW@Home), the brain child of self-professed ‘serial starter upper’’—the late great Lynn Willeford—has moved to a new location in Freeland.
Lynn Willeford, who passed from earthly life in January, 2021, was married to Blake Willeford of The Clyde Theatre fame. She helped found South Whidbey Free University, South Whidbey Community Co-op, the Back to School Program, Hearts & Hammers, Friends of Friends medical fund, Whidbey Island Local Lending, Women of Whidbey, and South Whidbey at Home, a non-profit dedicated to promoting aging-in-place.
Having learned of a successful aging in place model, Beacon Hill Village, a Boston non-profit created in 2002, Lynn thought, why not create a similar program here on South Whidbey, and another of her ideas serving the community was born.
SW@Home celebrates its eighth year of pairing volunteer ‘ambassadors’ with elders who wish to have a conversation, a ride to an appointment, have some light gardening done, or other help.
Ross Godwin, SW@Home’s board vice president, said he has volunteered with the program since its beginning.
“Thriving Communities did a presentation on housing some years ago,” Ross recalled during a chat at SW@Home’s newest location at 1796 E. Main St., Suite #104, in Freeland. “Lynn mentioned South Whidbey at Home. I sat in a circle with her and said I wanted to be part of that. She said, ‘Wait a year.’ Sure enough, I was one of the first vetted businesses to volunteer.”
Now retired, Ross once ran a successful home maintenance business.
SW@ Home has partnered with organizations such as Enso House—a Buddhist-inspired program for the terminally ill and their caregivers, Healing Circles—which offers a number of programs designed for healing and holding conversation in a supportive environment, and Island Senior Resources—an umbrella organization offering a number of senior services.
This fall, SW@Home will host an open house, celebrating its new location and introducing the public to its program director, Frank Simpson, who is in charge of community outreach and writing grants, one of which is to fund another 10-week course, Aging Mastery, which, in part, deals with the crises of isolation among our elders. Frank is also looking at funding to host a fall prevention program.
Another employee is Pamela Almeida, SW@Home’s operations director who trains volunteers and coordinates visits with ambassadors and their clients.
I have volunteered with SW@Home since 2016 and have made friends with the three elders I visited. Notably, I came to know Urashan in August 2018, and was with her through COVID—as one of the few people she saw—up until the day she passed from her body in March 2021.
Videographer Chris Douthitt made this video for SW@Home about our relationship in February 2021.
Now, I’m lucky to be the companion of Rachel Swett, a weaver and wise woman, who I drive to the track where we take a walk once a week. I tell Rachel that being in her presence is payment for me. We have a lot of fun talking together.
South Whidbey at Home is currently recruiting new members and volunteers, and updating its webpage, so your patience is appreciated while it is being refreshed.
For more information, visit South Whidbey at Home at its new office, 1796 E. Main St., Suite #104, in Freeland. Phone number: 360-331-1971. Email: callmanager@swathome.org